Covid was particularly hard on the restaurant industry. To stay afloat, many were forced to innovate, and that was certainly the case with McAlister’s Deli, according to Kristen Stancill.
Stancill, Vice President of DMAC, LLC, the local franchisee, was in Augusta Friday for the grand opening of a new McAlister’s location at 3602 Exchange Lane off Walton Way Extension.
“We rolled out a new app right before Covid hit,” she said. “We invested a lot in the technology part of the company.”
The app allows customers to place orders for pickup or delivery. McAlister’s delivers to customers within a 30-mile radius of the restaurant. During the pandemic, when its dining rooms were closed, the restaurant offered curbside pickup.
Instead of a drive-thru window, the restaurant has a pick-up window, which means customers don’t have to go inside to get their food. They can also skip the line with tableside ordering.
Catering is also available for businesses within a 30-mile radius.
She said business was a little slow for the grand opening, but that’s expected because the company already has locations in Evans and Grovetown.
“I think as people get out of work, we’ll get a little busier,” Stancill said.
For several years, McAlister’s had a restaurant in the Augusta Mall, but it’s now closed.
“We were close to the end of our lease with the mall, and that was during Covid shutdowns,” she said. “We just didn’t renew our lease.”
While many businesses are struggling to find employees, she said hiring for this location wasn’t that difficult. The company starts hiring 30 days before the restaurant opens, and trainers from the corporate office help employees learn their jobs the first week.
“We’re fully staffed, which is nice,” she said.
Preparing to open a new restaurant is no easy task. Stancill said construction was a challenge, but the location opened relatively quickly. She likes the fact that Orangetheory Fitness will be in the same development.
“People can come and eat healthy food after they get off the treadmill,” Stancill said. “They’re a good partner.”
McAlister’s offers an extensive menu that includes salads, sandwiches, soups, and baked potatoes. The most popular items are the club and king club sandwiches.
“Because our menu is so large, there’s something for everyone,” she said.
The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, visit locations.mcalistersdeli.com/ga/augusta/3602-exchange-ln.
