Our story

A people business first. A hamburger business second.

The Burrell journey into McDonald's began in 1974 with one restaurant in Franklin, Kentucky.

The Burrell family owner/operators together at a McDonald's celebration

Paul Burrell, a second-generation owner/operator, began the family business with his father, Jim Burrell. From that one store, other siblings joined the business and branched off into their own areas throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.

Today, Paul's children are working in the business, with Alex, Michael and Kelsey serving as third-generation owner/operators. Paul, Alex, Michael and Kelsey all started in the restaurants as crew and learned their way through the business by following the guidelines set forth by McDonald's in their world-renowned training program.

The Burrells have always looked at their business as a people business first and a hamburger business second.

Milestones

Three generations, one standard.

1974
It starts in Franklin
Paul Burrell opens the family's first McDonald's in Franklin, Kentucky with his father, Jim Burrell.
1980s–2000s
The family branches out
Siblings join the business and open their own restaurants throughout Kentucky and Tennessee.
Today
Third generation at the counter
Alex, Michael and Kelsey Burrell are owner/operators — all of whom started as crew.

Meet our team