With a snip of the giant scissors, McAlister’s Deli, on Kiessel Road off Brownwood Paddock Square, officially opened it’s 337 th franchise location Monday morning. The owners, Florida natives Bryce and Stacey Kelly, are so enthusiastic about the brand, they plan to open four more Florida locations in the near future.
“We came here because we love The Villages community,” Stacey said, “and because our Brownwood location will also attract diners from Fruitland Park, Wildwood, Highway 301, the Turnpike and the Interstate. We serve high quality, fresh ingredients and generous portions, and feature regional American favorites, like New Orleans-style muffuletta sandwiches, on Gambino’s authentic muffuletta bread with olive oil. Another great example is the New Yorker sandwich, on toasted rye bread. It comes piled high with corned beef and pastrami, swiss cheese and spicy brown mustard.”
“The chain’s two favorite spuds are the Pot Roast Spud and the Spud Max, which is loaded with Black Forest ham, Butterball smoked turkey, bacon, cheddar-jack cheese and garnishes,” Bryce said. Customers order at our counter, but then we bring the food to their tables.”
“We encourage diners not to tip,” Stacey explained. “Unlike many restaurants, we pay our employees more than minimum wage. Some people still insist on tipping, so we donate that money to charity. Already, during our pre-opening preview days, we collected over $120 in tips, and gave a check today to Bill Kramp of the Wildwood Soup Kitchen.”
The Kellys describe their new venture as a fast casual dine-in restaurant — which means you can get your food as quickly as you need, but you’re also welcome to relax and enjoy your meal — with endless free refills on your beverages. The chain, is well known in 24 states across the nation for its service, sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, sweets and McAlister’s trademarked Famous Sweet Tea. The firm has come a long way since the first McAlister’s Deli opened in a converted gas station in Oxford, Mississippi, in 1989.
“McAlister’s also has an extensive catering menu,” Robin Blanton, a regional manager from the chain’s Mississippi headquarters, said. “Although the restaurant is not open for breakfast, we do cater breakfast meetings, as well as lunches, suppers and snacks. Our chain serves about 83,000 total meals a day.”
McAlister’s adds to the list of fun eateries at Brownwood Paddock Square — including City Fire, Cody’s, Five Guys, Las Tapas Ricciardi’s Italian Table and Sooples.
