Residents of ritzy suburb have a massive sook over plans to build a KFC on their doorstep

Residents of an upscale suburb are outraged by plans to build a KFC on their doorstep – a month after news broke that a Mexican restaurant was planned for their area.

Residents of Mosman, on Sydney’s lower north shore, are angry that KFC is opening a few suburbs away in North Sydney at 67-69 Mount Street.

Furious locals took to Facebook to share their concerns about all aspects of the takeaway chain’s store, including signage and the quality of the food.

By the end of 2023, the neighborhood was shocked. Guzman Y Gomez applied to Mosman Council to open a 24-hour shop on Military Road.

In many social media comments that have since been deleted, residents complained that KFC was changing the neighborhood.

Residents of Mosman on Sydney’s Lower North Shore are angry as KFC opens a few suburbs away in North Sydney at 67-69 Mount Street

The lower north coast is known for its expensive boutiques, restaurants and cafes. The average home price is $2.875 million, according to Domain.

The area also includes the suburb of Kirribilli, home to the Prime Minister’s Sydney residence.

“Being flooded by EzyMarts is probably next,” one person wrote.

Incredibly, one resident suggested the chain would attract unwanted people to the area.

“The mark of a truly international city is nighttime venues offering quality food and/or fine dining,” they said.

“I think we’re just not cutting the mustard, which is sad. These fast food chains attract the wreckage (discarded) of society, especially late at night.’

One wrote sarcastically that this is the beginning of the area’s demise.

“The government should buy some houses and also put housing commission apartments in them,” they said.

Others were quick to point out the residents’ attitudes.

“Lol, some people are so entitled,” they wrote.

Many were excited about the possible arrival of the chain, happy that they could go somewhere on the way home after a night out.

If approved, KFC will be located in a two-story sandstone building dating from 1855.

The location has been empty for years after Hungry Jacks left the premises during Covid.

An application was submitted to North Sydney Council in late September 2023 seeking permission to install additional signage above what heritage conservation would allow.

The application for the KFC is where Hungry Jacks operated but closed during COVID

Standard practice is to limit signs to one per ‘heritage item’, but according to KFC’s application, this had not been the case in the past as Hungry Jacks had multiple signs.

A final decision has not yet been made, although plans to open a McDonald’s on a nearby street were strongly opposed several years ago and never came to fruition.

The posh lower north coast doesn’t have many takeaway chains, much to the dismay of many locals who have to travel or get deliveries from other areas.

Guzman Y Gomez’s development proposal was for a vacant retail space between a pharmacy and a Lululemon store, located in a Heritage Conservation Area.

Residents presented their disgust to the city council at the time.

“As a resident of Mosman, I am strongly opposed to 24-hour trading of any kind in the village of Mosman. 6am to 10pm is appropriate, but 24 hours is not. It is inappropriate for our community,” one person wrote.

“60 percent of TripAdvisor reviews rate this business as 2 stars or less on a scale of 5. There must be a reason,” said another.

Reactions on Facebook were divided, but residents who expressed their opposition did not mince their words.

“The reason people pay $5-10 million to live in Mosman and Balmoral is NOT to attract people looking for 24 hour restaurants,” one person wrote.

Many residents strongly opposed the proposed 24-hour Guzman Y Gomez chain opening in a heritage protection area