Growth Spurt in Dunlap Area
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ TV
Updated: September 26, 2012
DUNLAP- People lined up before 5:00 a.m. Wednesday morning outside the new McDonalds on North Knoxville.
"Our drive-through was out to the street and going towards the stop sign up the road. It was incredible," said owner, Terry Clark.
Many were hoping to be one of the first hundred in the door and get free fries for a year. Clark said the offer brought tons of people in the door, and he hopes they continue to have a steady stream of business. Clark said research told him the Dunlap community was the perfect place to open the fast food restaurant.
"We looked at the demographics and the way the housing market was growing, building all kinds of schools out in this area," he said.
Customers on opening day couldn't agree more, saying things like, "It's a lot more convenient for us who live in the town of Dunlap," "The other ones are such a drive, it's just hard to get to," and "A lot more convenient. It's a lot closer to home."
The new McDonald's hired more than 40 people. Another business right next door also did some recent hiring. A Walgreens opened its doors about six weeks ago, and hired more than 20 employees, hoping for the same bunch of customers.
"A lot of Dunlap, and a lot of Chillicothe Grey Ghosts. So we have Grey Ghost T-shirts and sweatshirts," said store manager Susan Walker.
It's the first Walgreens in the area with a new open layout. The store is designed to look bigger with an open ceiling and longer, wider isles. Customers have easier access to workers. Walker said business is good.
"We're expecting it to increase with the new McDonalds opening next door.
Both stores say many Dunlap residents work in Peoria, and they pick up a lot of the traffic from people stopping on their way to and from work.
"Our drive-through was out to the street and going towards the stop sign up the road. It was incredible," said owner, Terry Clark.
Many were hoping to be one of the first hundred in the door and get free fries for a year. Clark said the offer brought tons of people in the door, and he hopes they continue to have a steady stream of business. Clark said research told him the Dunlap community was the perfect place to open the fast food restaurant.
"We looked at the demographics and the way the housing market was growing, building all kinds of schools out in this area," he said.
Customers on opening day couldn't agree more, saying things like, "It's a lot more convenient for us who live in the town of Dunlap," "The other ones are such a drive, it's just hard to get to," and "A lot more convenient. It's a lot closer to home."
The new McDonald's hired more than 40 people. Another business right next door also did some recent hiring. A Walgreens opened its doors about six weeks ago, and hired more than 20 employees, hoping for the same bunch of customers.
"A lot of Dunlap, and a lot of Chillicothe Grey Ghosts. So we have Grey Ghost T-shirts and sweatshirts," said store manager Susan Walker.
It's the first Walgreens in the area with a new open layout. The store is designed to look bigger with an open ceiling and longer, wider isles. Customers have easier access to workers. Walker said business is good.
"We're expecting it to increase with the new McDonalds opening next door.
Both stores say many Dunlap residents work in Peoria, and they pick up a lot of the traffic from people stopping on their way to and from work.
