Anyone in Custer County needing a late-night supper after a ball game or a quick lunch on a tight schedule now has one less option. The Broken Bow McDonald’s which has been a staple within the community and county for the past 20 years, has closed its doors permanently.

The announcement of the closure came just a few days before the final day of business for the restaurant, which was Tuesday, Oct. 31. In an interview with Greg Hall, owner of the Broken Bow McDonald’s, by KCNI/ KBBN News Director Summer Yarrington, Hall explained that he and partner Corey Hall had been in negotiation with McDonald’s Corporate for the past 18 months. Hall said they were all aware of the impact closing the store would have on the community and surrounding area, and therefore were taking every consideration possible to try to prevent that.

In the interview with Yarrington, Hall said that McDonald’s Corporate looked at a lot of different metrics and numbers to try to determine what the next 20 years will look like in Broken Bow. Among the factors discussed regarding the Broken Bow location closure were population and employment.

“There were lots of emotions and tears from the employees. And I know we’ve got so many regular customers that count on us for either just a cup of coffee or for their meal during their lunch break or bringing in the family after a baseball game in the summer. I mean there are so many memories that were made at the restaurant. It’s tough, really tough” Hall told Yarrington.

He explained that the McDonald’s corporation opens and closes a certain number of restaurants each year, and had one more scheduled closure for 2023. Unfortunately, that happened to be the Broken Bow location.

Hall told Yarrington that jobs are guaranteed for all Broken Bow McDonald’s employees at other locations, and all employees are being provided with severance pay. Insurance benefits will be carried out through the end of November.

“For us, we were more concerned about the people aspect of things versus sales or profitability. McDonald’s has been in our family for 49 years,” Hall told KCNI/ KBBN. “My brother and I own the Broken Bow restaurant and we are third generation. Our grandfather started the first McDonalds in our family back in 1974.