ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Orange Park is home to many fast-food restaurants, but one stands out not just for its longevity but for its remarkable owner.
This McDonald’s, the first in Clay County, has been a staple for over 50 years. Its owner, 83-year-old Karen King, embodies the secret sauce of success with her strategic mind and vibrant personality.
Karen King was born in 1942 and grew up in the 1940s and 50s with dreams typical of the era.
“I thought maybe I’d be a nurse or a teacher, beautician, I don’t know, because that was back in the 50s,” she recalled.
However, her life took a different path, one she could never have imagined.
“Fortunately, 99% has been wonderful,” King said, reflecting on her journey.
Over the years, King has owned eight McDonald’s restaurants. She fondly remembers one store in particular, saying, “This was my first store all by myself.”
She recalled the unique design choices she made, like the open kitchen with bar stools, despite others' skepticism.
“They said, ‘Oh, you don’t want that. They can see behind the counter.’ And I said, ‘And what do I have to hide?’” King said.
King’s life story is an open book. After her first husband passed away, she married a McDonald’s supervisor.
“When Mr. King and I were married, they had no women working at a McDonald’s, none,” she said.
She proposed purchasing a store, leveraging her financial acumen and her husband’s McDonald’s connections.
“I said, ‘We are equal partners in every way,’” she asserted.
Though the marriage eventually ended, King continued to thrive in business.
She and her husband purchased two restaurants, including the one at the Orange Park Mall. After their split, King eventually retained the family business and remains an active owner.
The McDonald’s in Orange Park is a landmark, greeting visitors as they cross the Duval/Clay County line. The restaurant, rebuilt in 2002, was the first retro-style McDonald’s in the Jacksonville Co-Op.
“I wanted to be the first with this particular building with the arches because I said I grew up during the 50s,” King explained.
King has been breaking glass ceilings for a long time but acknowledges she hasn’t done it alone.
“I have a fabulous director of operations,” she said, introducing Scooter McLeod, who started in the kitchen at 17 and worked his way up.
She said he played a big part in her success.
King is truly an inspiration, and even she’s not sure how much longer she’ll keep being involved.
“I think every year this is going to be the year,” she said with a laugh. “And then when I turned 80, I said, ‘I think this would be a good year.’”
Three years later, she’s still serving a community she loves, supported by her Golden Arches.