McDonald’s Plays Active Role in Chicagoland Communities

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Black McDonald's Operations Association member Keith Allen and Ronald McDonald at the newly renovated McDonald's at 70 E. Garfield.
Black McDonald's Operations Association member Keith Allen and Ronald McDonald at the newly renovated McDonald's at 70 E. Garfield.

The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland (BMOA) is serving Chicago’s communities in and outside of their restaurants.

According to its’ website, the Chicagoland BMOA is made up of 15 Chicago and northwest Indiana McDonald’s owners who take pride in providing leadership while creating and nurturing their African-American communities while providing education and health-focused initiatives.

“The BMOA and McDonald’s are deeply rooted in the community 365 days a year. We actively participate in programs that promote education and empowerment. Just recently, we participated in the Bud Billiken Back-to-School parade as a title sponsor and donated more than 600 bags of school supplies to Chicagoland youth,” BMOA President Ron Lofton told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper. “Throughout the year we support a variety of civic causes that affect the people in the communities we serve. Our commitment has always been about “Empowering Minds and Building Leaders.”

Upgrades to existing McDonald’s restaurants are also in BMOA’s plans to better serve the communities they serve in.

Restorations are made possible via the McDonald’s Major Remodel Program (MRP). The MRP is a 5-year national program that began in 2010 and encompasses exterior and interior renovations along with drive-thru enhancements. The reinvestment program is designed to strengthen the visual expression of McDonald’s restaurants and to enhance the customer’s experience.

Recently, BMOA member Keith Allen, remodeled his McDonald’s restaurant located at 70 E. Garfield (corner of Garfield & Michigan).

“The renovation has changed the way business is run through investments in side-by-side drive-thrus and a lobby remodel. The new drive-thrus have allowed us to get customers served faster. With the lobby remodel, our aim is to satisfy customers, from the community and abroad, and encourage them to take their time to dine in and relax in a safe environment,” said Allen who has been a BMOA member owns for 25 years. “The remodel also has the Simply Red Lobby Décor and encompasses art from the University of Chicago and DuSable Museum and new exterior landscaping. We are ADA compliant (handicap accessible) to better serve all customers.”

Allen began his McDonald’s career as a crew member for the first African-American to own a McDonald’s, Herman Petty. He recalled his own time as a crew member.

“I know all of the shortcuts and understand what they go through. McDonald’s has shaped the way I view the importance of serving as a mentor to encourage and promote growth within.”

In recent weeks, BMOA of Chicagoland (who is part of the larger National Black McDonald’s Operators Association (NBMOA)) has partnered with several events such as The 3rd Annual Taste of WVON and the Coke Zero “Perfect Pair Challenge” with 107.5 WGCI-FM personality Loni Swain and sponsored the inaugural BMOA Block Party which featured R&B sensation Joe this year.

For more information about becoming a McDonald’s owner and a BMOA member visit www.AboutMcDonalds.com and to keep up with BMOA’s upcoming events visit their Twitter page @BMOAChicagoland.

A list of BMOA McDonald’s locations can be found on its’ website.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee