Staff photo - Allie Jackson Shovel in hand, Economic Development Director Linda Moore joined in Wednesday's excitement - breaking ground for McDonald's in Auburn to bring the household sign to an eager community. Staff photo - Allie Jackson Auburn Mayor Linda Blechinger, who said citizens wanted good, quality fast-food, helped store manager Brenda Dahlstrand and Lynn Hawkins cut the celebratory cake at the reception which followed the ground-breaking event. Franchise owner Paul Messer was on hand for the groundbreaking

Residents of Auburn soon will no longer have to travel to Winder for a Big Mac. That's right. Mayor Linda Blechinger and city officials welcomed the new McDonald's restaurant with open arms on Wednesday, with a groundbreaking ceremony and reception.

Franchise owner Paul Messer was present for the ceremony along with his business partners Paul Messer Jr., director of operations and Lynn (Messer) Hawkins. The trio own more that 18 McDonald's restaurants in the Northeast Georgia region, including the busy Winder location.

Debi Krause, vice president of Barrow County Chamber of Commerce, said that the Winder McDonald's is a top producer in the northeast Georgia region.

"I was just amazed at the business they do at that store," Krause said.

Hawkins comes to the Auburn location with 15 years experience in the franchise business. Her father, Paul Messer, she said has 40-plus years experience.

"It's going to be fun," Hawkins said. "Restaurants like this always are. With community involvement ... sometimes in big corporations you lose that customer contact, but with small businesses like this ... you get to know the people that come through the front door," Hawkins said.

Barrow County Vice President of Economic Development Linda Moore said the new McDonalds is a positive move for the City of Auburn.

"When you market your community to specific businesses," Moore said, "and you have a quality business such as McDonald's, ... McDonald's is a household name. It is an excellent business to have represented in your community. To have a company with integrity and value like McDonald's that is widely recognized throughout the world, ... businesses like to cluster near other successful businesses," she said.

Krause said that it is sure to bring jobs and other businesses to the City of Auburn.

Brenda Dahlstrand, store manager for the Auburn location, recently returned from Chicago where she was awarded the prestigious Ray Kroc Award. The Ray Kroc Award, named after McDonald's corporate founder, is an annual performance based award that recognizes the top one percent of McDonald's restaurant managers in the country.

The award is given to managers who deliver superior results in operational excellence, which reinforces McDonald's commitment to people in the community.

"I think that this is one of the items [McDonald's] that our community spoke out and said they wanted," Blechinger said. "Good, quality fast food restaurants, and that's what McDonald's is. Our citizens are getting what they asked for and that pleases me," she said. "The city is honored to welcome them as part of our city." Blechinger also said the new restaurant is sure to bring in other quality businesses.

Chad Rains, general contractor with the Hudson Company, said the new McDonald's should open later this summer. "Somewhere around 110-120 days," Rains said.

McDonald's is the leading foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants serving 52 million people in more than 100 countries. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. McDonald's is one of the worlds most recognized brands in the food-service business and holds a leading share in the informal-eating out market in virtually every country it does business in. It is well known for its famous Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Egg McMuffin, Chicken McNuggets and of course, its world-famous french fries.

Originally published Sunday, April 6, 2008