The Unexpected Person Who Created McAlister's Deli
If you've ever lived near any of the more-than 500 McAlister's Deli locations, you'll understand what makes them so well known. For one, its menu offers something for everyone. McAlister's baked potatoes, known as Giant Spuds, can be filled with a myriad of mouthwatering toppings such as house-roasted peppers, broccoli, and cheese. Additionally, diners have the option to choose from one of the five club sandwiches on the menu. Aside from its food, McAlister's is recognized for a particular beverage. Customers can get one of the restaurant's famous sweet teas at no cost by signing up to earn free food with McAlister's Deli's rewards card. Rewards card members are eligible to buy a Tea Pass for $6.99, which entitles them to one complimentary tea per day. There's no doubt about it — McAlister's Deli knows how to keep 'em happy and coming back.
While this all may be familiar to McAlister's Deli enthusiasts, you may not know about its history and the man who started it all. Here's some fascinating information you can really sink your teeth into.
A man with a dream
McAlister's Deli has changed a lot since it was founded in 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi. The man with a dream who started it all was Don Newcomb, DDS. Yes, that's right, McAlister's Deli was founded by a practicing dentist. According to Franchise Times, Dr. Newcomb got his first taste of the restaurant business when he was a teenager working the soda counter at a local drugstore. After graduation, he went on to attend the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry and later worked as a dentist in the U.S. Navy.
Despite having a successful practice as a dentist, the short stint working the drugstore luncheonette so many years earlier inspired Newcomb to open what would be his first restaurant. In 1989, he purchased an old gas station that had been converted into a diner movie set used in the film "Heart of Dixie." According to The Oxford Eagle, he originally named the restaurant Chequer's, but changed it when he decided the name was too similar to the name of another restaurant. He eventually named the eatery McAlister's Deli in honor of his in-laws. The rest, as they say, is history.
Ditching the drill
Don Newcomb never worked at any of the McAlister's Deli restaurants. He continued to fill cavities and check gums until he ditched the drill for good and retired. However, Newcomb must have been bitten by the restaurant business bug because in 2004 he and his son Chris started Newk's Eatery in Oxford, Mississippi, which now has over 100 locations.
In 2005 when McAlister's Deli was purchased by Roark Capital Group (per Biz Journals) — you might know them for Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon — it boasted over $200 million in sales, so I think it's safe to say Newcomb made the money back that he borrowed in 1989.
While the original McAlister's Deli closed in 2021, according to The Oxford Eagle, its menu isn't much different from the one created back in the '80s. You can still order McAlister's famous sweet tea, a bowl of country potato soup, or any of the four craveable classic sandwiches that started it all.