McDonald’s, the franchise megachain par excellence, has had a footprint here in Western Central Florida for decades. We had to look it up: as of September, there were estimated to be 13,527 McDonald’s locations in the U.S., and more than 40,000 worldwide as last year. Behind most of these locations are franchisees: local business owners, some of whom have been in the business for decades.
One such franchisee is Robert Bateman, who owns six McDonald’s franchises in the area. Bateman is currently preparing to reopen the location in Mulberry, at 205 Canal Street. The Mulberry location is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“I’m a second-generation owner-operator,” Bateman told What Now on Tuesday. “My father came down here fifty years ago. We opened in Mulberry in 1993.”
With the reopening, you’ll once more be able to stop by for iconic McDonald’s burgers, chicken, and more.
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