John McDonald at the helm (he would introduce himself simply as
'the cook")
February 1982 photo of the original location
November 1989 photo
John & Eunice McDonald outside the cafeteria and hotel from February 1990
March 1997 interior shot with some of the regulars
For over 30 years, McDonald's Cafeteria was a West Charlotte institution. Opened by John McDonald at the start of the 1970's, McDonald's Cafeteria not only featured great home cooking, but was a gathering place for people of all races by promoting community and diversity.
John McDonald began his restaurant career in 1949 with the opening of the popular McDonald's Dining Room in Brooklyn, NY. He retired back to Charlotte in 1969 (he had left Charlotte originally in 1945), but by the next year had opened McDonald's Cafeteria in a small building on the corner of Beatties Ford Rd and LaSalle St. In 1982, he would move the restaurant to a larger building on Beatties Ford Rd at I-85. At the groundbreaking ceremony McDonald was quoted as saying "We're trying to give what the community is in need of...My concept is that we, as a people can do something to our own home by developing our own community. This is how we become a total person". The cafeteria would grow to include three dining rooms and several meeting rooms. McDonald would add a hotel adjacent to the cafeteria as a well as a minature golf course next door (named Fun City).
John McDonald died of a heart attack in October of 1995. The following year, the restaurant would close due to a fire. In 1997, the cafeteria was bought and reopened under the new ownership of a group of Westside investors led by former Charlotte mayor Harvey Gantt. In June of 1999, McDonald's widow and family opened Lil' Mac's cafeteria restaurant on Central Ave (a block from the Penguin). By the summer of 2003, both McDonald's and Lil' Mac would both be closed forever.
From its fantastic food (favorites included fried chicken, turnip greens, black-eyed peas, whipped rutabagas, pecan pie, and McDonald's famous sweet tea) to its larger than life owner, McDonald's Cafeteria will always be remembered as a place that belonged to the people.
REVISIONS -- 8/9/2008
1977 picture of LaSalle St location
Good evening! My name is Kisha Poage the granddaughter of the Late John W. McDonald. I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing pictures I haven't seen in years. I do want to make a correction to this blog...Lil' Mac's was opened in June of 1999 and owned by mother Brenda McDonald Poage; not widow and my mother.
ReplyDeleteI currently am looking to continue my family history by opening a new Cafe named MacDonald's Cafe. Hopefully, soon the tradition will continue!! If you know or are an investor and would like to be apart of a continued legacy, please e-mail me at macdonaldscafe@hotmail.com.
I currently am looking to continue my family history by opening a new Cafe named MacDonald's Cafe. Hopefully, soon the tradition will continue!! If you know or are an investor and would like to be apart of a continued legacy , please e-mail me at macdonaldscafe@hotmail.com.