Top Two Fast-Food Chains Remain Active in Area

Subway has surpassed McDonald’s as the world’s largest restaurant chain, according to a recent report in The Wall Street Journal.

Both are staying busy in Northwest Arkansas.

While Subway is expected to open a 1,900-SF store at the University of Arkansas’ Garland Avenue Center, Mathews Management Co. has set a June 7 target date for re-opening its McDonald’s store on College Avenue in Fayetteville. The old store was razed in January and the new one will be 4,000 SF, seat 72 and employ about 50.

“The design is really, really contemporary and it will have all the latest, greatest equipment,” said Bill Mathews, who owns and operates 33 McDonald’s restaurants in Arkansas and Oklahoma along with his brother, Walter.

Bill Mathews also said extensive work has been done to level the parking lot and create a single access point for entering and exiting.

The store’s interior was designed by Steve Knitch of California-based JBI. Amenities will include a Bose sound system, high-definition television and free Wi-Fi.

The store additionally will feature a 24-hour dual-lane drive-thru with digital communication systems.

According to The Wall Street Journal report, McDonald’s 32,737 restaurants worldwide now trail Subway’s 33,749. McDonald’s continues to lead in revenue, however, $24 billion last year to $15.2 billion for Subway.