Local McDonald’s protégé, Emily Mast has officially purchased McDonald’s of Keokuk from her father and mentor, Steve Mast. Steve purchased the restaurant in 1998 and has now hung up his spatula to enter a well-deserved retirement along with his wife Dena Mast.
“I never imagined that my first McDonald’s crew-person job at age 16 would turn into what it has today for not only myself, but for my family,” said Steve Mast. “The hard work that goes into becoming a McDonald’s Owner/Operator is something I understand very well, so you can imagine the pride I felt watching my daughter Emily purchase the Keokuk McDonald’s restaurant.”
This transition in ownership is a rather seamless one, with Emily working in the restaurant since age 16 just like her father did, to begin the process of following in his footsteps as a McDonald’s Owner/Operator. Emily attended Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and in 2015 she decided it was time to work full time for the family business. Emily went through the “Next Generation Program” at McDonald’s, and completed it in 2022. Afterwards, she was officially granted approval to become a second-generation Owner/Operator at McDonald’s and has now become the official owner of McDonald’s of Keokuk in April of this year.
“I look forward to carrying on the McDonald’s legacy my parents started and implementing everything they have taught me about being a great local business owner in our beloved Keokuk community for decades to come,” said Emily Mast.
To honor and recognize Emily on becoming an official business owner in the Keokuk Community, the local Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, at 10 a.m. at the McDonald’s of Keokuk located at 1407 Main Street.
