Why no McDonald's in montpelier?

Answer 1

It's the only state capital in the country that doesn't have one. It's kind of an achievement. It's also the only state capital where you can smell manure from the steps of the capital building.

Answer 2

It's too small?

No. McDonald's was interested in placing a franchise at the corner of Elm and State Streets in the old bank building. There was some local resistance. Negotiations proceeded between the city and McDonald's, and the city expressed concern about the traffic issues caused by the proposed location, which has nearly no parking at all. The city requested a possible solution to the traffic issue, but McDonald's declined to pursue it, perhaps because there's another McDonald's a couple of miles away. The locals have since been taking credit for "keeping McDonald's out of Montpelier", as if it were a battle between the big corporation and a small town, but the reality was a little more complex (and less romantic) than that.