GENTRY — The world’s newest McDonald’s Restaurant broke ground in Gentry on Thursday.
Gentry Mayor Wes Hogue; Bev Saunders from the Gentry Chamber of Commerce; Bill Mathews and Walter Mathews, owner/operators of the new McDonald’s; and Randy Mourning, president of L.R. Mourning, the general contractor, were on hand for the festivities.
The restaurant is located at the intersection of Arkansas Highways 12 and 59. Bill andWalter Mathews’ company, Mathews Management Co. based in Springdale, currently operates 32 McDonald’s Restaurants in northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma.
This state-of-the art restaurant will be 3,300 square feet and will contain seating for 50 people.
The interior was designed by Steve Knitch with JBI of Long Beach, Calif. Local Gentry area photographs were done by James Bell.
The restaurant will feature a 24-hour drivethrough with a digital audio communication system and digital customer order display.
The restaurant will feature the latest in restaurantequipment technology, including an automated beverage system which produces drive-through beverages automatically; low-oil, volume-efficient fryers; and electronic clamshell grills.
The restaurant will also feature extensive landscaping designed by Frank Walburn of Greenscapes.
The restaurant will feature the full McDonald’s standard menu, including the Dollar Menu. It will also feature the Mc-Cafe with espresso-based beverages, frappes and smoothies.
Steve Lewis is the area supervisor for the restaurant. Amy Bouyear will be the restaurant manager. She has been with Mc-Donald’s for over 22 years.She has most recently been the restaurant manager in Siloam Springs. The restaurant will employ about 50 crew members and managers, with most coming from the Gentry area.
The restaurant will open in August.
For more information, contact Bill Mathews at (479) 751-9617.
News, Pages 1 on 06/30/2010