we made a pact that if a McDonalds or a Starbucks ever gets built in Las Terrenas, we're selling our home
Ok, a Burger King then! lol
Now that I think of it, I don't think there are any international fast food joints on the entire Samaná Peninsula. Apparently, there isn't a sizeable enough middle class to support those types of businesses. Las Terrenas is growing. Notice Grupo Ramos expanded to the peninsula by opening a Super Pola in Las Terrenas, they didn't bother with the provincial capital and forget about it regarding other towns and villages. Expats and weekenders is what keeps that place alive. I greatly doubt Las Terrenas proper can sustain such a business. That could be the beginning of what could come in the future if Las Terrenas continue to grow in popularity among expats.
Then again, Sosúa has more expats than Las Terrenas and while they have a Super Pola (don't know if that was one of the Super Pola's converted to Sirena Market), it doesn't have its own Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc. Sosúa's expats have to go to Puerto Plata if they crave for those things, because it's Dominicans that are kreping these places open. Closest place to Las Terrenas with Pizza Hut, Burger King and the likes is San Francisco de Macorís, an area with hardly any expats too. Even Sirena is there while it isn't anywhere in Samaná.
Age demographic could explain that in addition to population size. Among expats the average age has to be much higher than among middle class Dominicans, plus the typical expat doesn't live with a family with kids while it's more common among middle class Dominicans. So, even if a place has an expat population big enough with an average income that could be the same or higher than typical middle class Dominicans to theoretically support a Pizza Hut and sorts, the age factor can work against it given peoples diets change as they get older and face more health problems.
The fact that there isn't a single Nacional in any of the expats "hotspots" (except Punta Cana, but Nacional is actually closer to Dominican dominated communities than those dominated by foreigners, another sign?) To have a Nacional means there is serious money around, since that is the most luxurious supermarket chain in the DR. Not even Bravo, which is quite a few steps down but higher than Olé, is in or near expats hotspots. Every year they open new stores, none in the "expat zone." There is a rumor that Bravo will open a store in Puerto Plata, but when will that happen is anyone's guess. What is certain is that every rumor of Bravo opening a store in a certain place is followed by they opening a store there a couple of years down the line. They usually buy the land where the store will be a few years before they break ground to start construction. Notice, the rumor is that they will open a store in what is the major zone for middle class Dominicans on the north coast. There is no rumor they will be opening a store in Sosúa, much less in Las Terrenas. That coukd change at least for Sosúa, for Las Terrenas not so much.
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