McDonald’s Owner Leon Goodrum Opens State-of-the-Art Store in Atlanta; 5 Ways It Helps the Community

By Terry Shropshire
Nov 10, 2011
8:29 am

McDonald’s brand-new store sparkles in the Atlanta night like Christmas lights, and owner-operator Leon Goodrum presented the historic West End community with an early season’s greeting: a state-of-the-art store that rivals the best McDonald’s franchises in the colossal national chain.

Goodrum, the multifaceted businessman who owns seven McDonald’s franchises in the city, was feted with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the reopening of the 29-year-old store, replete with Mayor Kasim Reed’s presentation of the city’s highest honor, the Phoenix Award.

“It’s just great. I’m just proud to do something for this community. They need it, they deserve it. And I did the best that I could to do this. I don’t want to ever hear ‘If I go to Buckhead, I don’t have to do this, or they don’t have this.’ Well, you can go to Buckhead or any other ‘head,’ it ain’t gonna be any better than this,” he said to appreciative laughter and applause from the small crowd. “This place here, I’m very proud. It took so long to get it, after all the things that we’ve done in the community. It took us so long to get started I thought they wouldn’t get the new Christmas gift party in the new building. I just want to say thank you all.”

McDonald's Owner Leon Goodrum Opens State-of-the-Art Store in Atlanta; 5 Ways It Helps the Community — Ronald McDonald, Leon Goodrum, Mayor Kasim Reed, Leon Goodrum Jr., and McDonald's VP of Atlanta Region Harry Coaxum

Multiple city leaders, including state senators, congressmen and civic leaders, joined Reed in paying homage to Goodrum, who was born in Forsyth County, Ga., and used his resources to uplift the community.

“I’m delighted to be here and I’m ready to celebrate,” said Reed. “And what I like about Leon, he didn’t have a hit season; he’s had a hit career. Just think of it, to have a business like this here for 29 years, six months and eight days, serving this community, giving quality, giving opportunities, showing people real examples of entrepreneurship. That’s what makes this so special. But what is even more special than what Leon has done, is that 40 years ago, when McDonald’s built this franchise, [late, legendary] Mayor Maynard Jackson cut the ribbon. So how fitting is it that in this city, I would be here to cut the ribbon to this same McDonald’s.”

And that’s just the point: in keeping his wealth in the community, Goodrum accomplished five social and business objectives in one fell swoop:

By reopening the store on Ralph Abernathy Blvd., Goodrum is providing opportunities and employment for area residents.
The spectacular McDonald’s, filled with modern décor and technology, shows urbanites that their community can have top-shelf businesses, too.
Goodrum and his son, store manager Leon, are showing how to build and sustain intergenerational wealth. ““It was a great opportunity,” Leon Goodrum said. “We’ve been here for 29 years. I had an old, old store. And, you know, it’s good to bring it back to the community, a nice store [like] we have here. We have Wi-Fi, flat-screens, and we have the latest and the greatest from McDonald’s. I am happy and I’m proud.”
Goodrum is showing by example what entrepreneurship is all about, that it is possible, and that you can create opportunities not only for yourself but for others.
The success of the McDonald’s franchises has given the Goodrum family the platform and resources to engage in real life-changing philanthropy, such as his Christmas gifts programs that he will conduct in December. He also is well-known for supporting educational, sporting and charitable programs.

–terry shropshire