Eddie Murphy decided to convert McDonald’s restaurant into McDowell’s for his 1988 movie Coming to America, rather than going the product placement way. This turned out to be a great pun for the movie. In case you have ever considered visiting this spoof restaurant then this is going to be your chance. In line with the Halloween spirit, a real McDowell’s is going to open its doors in case you are either living or visiting Hollywood this fall.
Coming to America 2 is under development featuring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall in their famed comedy rules from the 80s blockbuster comedy. However, fans need to wait for the film to hit the big screen. As of now, they can revisit the nostalgia in a different and subversive way.
McDowell’s happened to be a key location in Coming to America. Prince Akeem played by Eddie Murphy worked at the fast food outlet to understand the American way of life. Now McDowell is coming to Hollywood for the Halloween. Fat Sal’s Deli at 100 N. Highland Avenue is dressing up as McDowell on Halloween this year. The restaurant’s interior and exterior is being redone to be a replica of the McDowell’s as we saw in the film.
The revamped cosplaying restaurant (not the first one) opens to the public on Monday, October 30 and Tuesday, October 31 from 11 am to 3 pm, and that means that those with jobs might not get time to visit it.
It’s obvious that McDowell was a spoof of McDonald’s and the film makes fun about that. Instead of showing McDonald’s Golden Arches, the McDowell’s had Golden Arcs. Their Big Mick was superior to Big Mac anytime. The question is, will fans throng Fat Sal’s cosplaying Deli and get a chance to grab a juicy Big Mick? Or is it just the décor that’s going to change? No, clue on that.
It’s not the only time that a real-life McDowell came to America. Back in 2015, we had seen Chicago restaurant The Wiener’s Circle cosplay as McDowell’s. Fat Sal’s is related directly to the film industry. Its co-founder is Turtle aka Jerry Ferrara from Entourage. That might keep a few fans away as per their principles; the restaurant gets high ratings from food lovers who are fans of their sandwiches. We don’t know if the employees will be made to dress up like the underpaid lettuce cleaners of McDowell’s, in Scottish style frocks, but, we can imagine that would be fun.
You never know if Eddie, Arsenio or Samuel L. Jackson may just walk in to get a quick bite. Fat Sal’s might even leave the restaurant in its new look so that Coming to America 2 could use it as a shooting venue next year. The film has Jonathan Levine (Snatched) as director, and the original writers are also coming back. Have a look at the McDowell in action here. Just remember, if you haven’t seen Coming to America then you are likely to scream at your colleagues before the day ends. ‘Freeze you diseased rhinoceros pizzle.’ This was probably the best line ever delivered by Arsenio in a film.
