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December 16 2022

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By CADY DAVIS CDAVIS@NEWSTOPICNEWS.COM

Dec 15, 2022

 

HUDSON — Residents of the town of Hudson will no longer have to drive all the way to Granite Falls or beyond to enjoy a hot fast-food meal from McDonald’s, as a new location has opened on Mt. Herman Road.

 

On Thursday, Dec. 15, right before the morning breakfast rush, McDonald’s owners and staff, along with the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce, Hudson Mayor Janet Winkler, the Hudson Police Department, and members of the Hudson community gathered at the new McDonald’s at 301 Mt. Herman Road to celebrate the fast-food restaurant’s grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

 

The South Caldwell High School marching band, under the direction of Jason Childers, began the ceremony with a rousing performance.

 

Afterwards, Christine Nevant, the owner of the new Hudson McDonald’s and the McDonald’s in Granite Falls, presented the South Caldwell students with a check for $500.

 

“You’ve made our grand opening very special,” she said. “We are so excited to serve the community.”

 

Next, Hudson Mayor Janet Winkler addressed the crowd, saying she was “thrilled” to see the town of Hudson get its own McDonald’s.

 

“I’ve told everybody that ‘Hudson has now arrived,” Winkler said, and the crowd cheered.

 

“We’re super excited to have a McDonald’s in Hudson and another McDonald’s in Caldwell County,” said Ashley Bolick, director of the Economic Development Commission.

 

“We’re excited to see all the great success you guys will have here.”

 

Nevant has been a McDonald’s restaurant operator for just over 10 years, following in her family’s footsteps. Her brother owns 43 restaurants in the West Virginia/Pittsburgh area. Nevant herself now owns 12 restaurants in Caldwell County, Hickory, and Asheville.

 

“[My husband] Chris and I take a lot of pride in offering jobs to this community, and also offering great food at a great value,” Nevant said. “We’re thrilled to be a part of Hudson. So far, we’ve been so impressed with everybody.”

 

Nevant said she is proud to be part of a business that provides wonderful opportunities for employees, including a $2,500 tuition assistance program for students.

 

“I just love this brand and I love what it does,” she said. “I believe in McDonald’s and what they do for their people, what they provide for their communities.”

 

Sixty-five% of Nevant’s workforce are women.

 

“It isn’t that I just choose to hire women, but I love to give them that opportunity because I think about what McDonald’s has done for me,” she said. “I think it’s so important to be a great role model to anyone who works with you … It’s a great support system.”

 

Nevant is also passionate about giving back to the community who supports her business endeavors.

 

“In every one of my locations, we support the neighboring restaurants. We do a lot of bringing in catered food, and I try to find the smaller, family-owned restaurants that could use a bump. We give all of our business to that … I give to all of the churches, and I give to all of the schools. I’m very philanthropic but I am able to do that because the community is very supportive of me.”

 

The new McDonald’s in Hudson is currently seeking talented individuals to join the team. Employees receive benefits such as free meals, paid time off and vacations, and health insurance. Members of upper-level management are also offered 401K options.

 

“McDonald’s provides a lot of great things for people,” Nevant said. “The stronger your upper-level management is, the better your business will be.”