McAlister's Deli facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi, United States |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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Number of locations
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550+ |
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Area served
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United States |
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Key people
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Michael Freeman (President) Jessica Osborne (VPM) Aron Teneyck (VPO) |
| Parent | Focus Brands |
McAlister's Deli is a well-known American restaurant chain. It serves "fast casual" food, which means it's quicker than a sit-down restaurant but offers higher quality than fast food. The first McAlister's Deli opened in 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi. It was started by a retired dentist named Dr. Don Newcomb.
Today, there are more than 500 McAlister's Deli locations. You can find them in 29 different states across the United States. Their menu has many tasty options. These include deli sandwiches, large baked potatoes called "giant spuds," soups, salads, and desserts. They also offer catering services, like sandwich trays and boxed lunches. McAlister's Deli is especially famous for its sweet tea. You can buy it by the glass or even by the gallon!
McAlister's Deli is part of a bigger company called Focus Brands. This company also owns other popular food chains. Some of these include Schlotzsky's, Carvel, Moe's Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, Jamba, and Auntie Anne's.
How McAlister's Deli Started
The very first McAlister's Deli was quite unique. It opened inside an old, renovated gas station. Many of the design ideas from that first restaurant are still used today. For example, you might see a garage door or classic black-and-white tiles in newer locations. When it first opened, the deli was called Checker's. Later, its name was changed to McAlister's.
In 1999, the founder, Don Newcomb, sold the company. He sold it to Michael J. Stack and Philip Friedman. At that time, McAlister's Deli had 45 restaurants. These were a mix of company-owned and franchised locations. They were mostly in the southeastern part of the United States. Don Newcomb stayed involved with the company. He became a director on the board.
In 2005, another company bought McAlister's Deli. This company was called Roark Capital Group. By then, McAlister's Deli had grown a lot. It had 170 locations across 19 states.
Most McAlister's Deli restaurants are owned by independent business people. These owners are called franchisees. Some franchisees own just one restaurant. Others own many locations. For example, Southern Rock Restaurants is a large franchisee. They operate 148 McAlister's Deli locations in 12 states. The main office for McAlister's Deli is in Atlanta, Georgia.
See also
