After 46 years with McDonald’s Restaurant, 19 of those here in Fort Scott, owner Mark McCoy is retiring.

As of May 1, Glen Nichols, Pittsburg, is the new owner.

“He is a great gentleman,” McCoy said of Nichols. “He owns restaurants in Pittsburg, Chanute, Parsons, Independence, Coffeyville, Baxter Springs and Columbus.”

“I am an active person, retiring is not in my vocabulary,” McCoy said. “Mo (his wife) and I will continue to be active in the community.”

Because of his job at McDonald’s, McCoy moved here from Kansas City 19 years ago, he said.

“We have enjoyed living here and will continue to do so,” McCoy said.

The quick-service industry has changed over the decades, he said.

“When I started with McDonald’s 46 years ago, we didn’t have a breakfast menu,” he said.  “The restaurant I started with didn’t have indoor seating….the majority of people employed there was 20ish and under.”

More recently McDonald’s has opened self-serve kiosks, mobile order and pay and Uber Eats, a delivery service, he said.

“We don’t have an Uber Eats in Fort Scott, we don’t have an Uber service,” McCoy said.

Currently, at Fort Scott McDonald’s Restaurant there are 55 employees, he said.

Many are older employees.

“The majority of the quick-serve industry are older, more mature folks (employees),” McCoy said. “That has evolved over the years in the U.S.”

McCoy plans to travel and visit family in California.

“I have two brothers and a daughter in California,” he said. “We hope to be able to travel.”