Dignitaries from across the region shivered through an extremely brief ribbon cutting ceremony for the newest McDonald’s store to arrive in St. Charles on Thursday, December 12. Mindful of the falling temperatures, franchisee James E. “Jimmy” Williams, Jr., President and CEO of Estel Foods, Inc., kept his remarks brief. But it was clear that those who filled the parking lot of his newest restaurant beyond capacity felt he was someone worth braving the cold for.
The store, located 2321 Upper Bottom Road, is the 26th store in Williams’ portfolio. This year also marks his 26th year as a McDonald’s franchisee. “It is an amazing feeling to be in business with McDonald’s,” Williams said. “It is an amazing feeling to have the team that I have.”
St. Charles Mayor Dan Borgmeyer spoke of the new store’s presence as a full circle moment.
“I remember back in the early 60s, a place called McDonald’s opened on Fifth Street and these guys were scared to death,” said Borgmeyer, referring to the McDonald brothers – and possibly Ray Kroc, who is credited as the founder of the company’s franchise business model. “They said, ‘We’ve got this new thing going with these hamburgers and we don’t know if we’re going to make it.’ They were very anxious for a couple of years,” Borgmeyer said. “Now they’ve got success stories like Jimmy.”
Williams’ success story started at McDonald’s. “I had a great mentor – Dr. Ben Davis, who owned a store in East St. Louis and gave me my first job,” Williams said. “I have ketchup in my blood.” After graduating from Dickinson College with a degree in political science, he spent eight years as a pilot for the U.S. Navy. “I had the opportunity to come back. I leaped at it,” Williams said. “I’ve been cooking hamburgers and French fries ever since – and I love it.”
In the years since he returned, he has become one of the region’s most successful businessmen – and one of the nation’s most successful McDonald’s franchisees. Borgmeyer presented Williams with the key to St. Charles during Thursday’s ceremony. “This key represents the key to growth, the key to opportunity and the key to success,” Borgmeyer said.
Before his remarks, Williams commemorated the opening by paying his success forward. He presented Youth In Need with a $2,500 donation in honor of the organization’s 50th anniversary. The crowd was in awe when he told them that the store was built in less than 90 days. Only one year elapsed from his idea of expanding to the region and being open for business.
“Jimmy is a great guy,” Borgmeyer said. “He is a mover and a shaker – and we need movers and shakers in St. Charles.”
The mayor said that the importance of Williams’ decision to build a store where he did cannot be overstated with respect to aiding the city in its further development.
“As we grow south, this is one of the pivot points,” Borgmeyer said. “It’s very important to have this here so that we can continue the efforts to grow this borough – we now have six boroughs.”
He beamed as he looked around at the cars that filled the drive-thru and the customers who packed the store.
“We need successful people like Jimmy in our community,” Borgmeyer said “He’s been successful in a lot of places. We are trying to attract successful people [to St. Charles] – and nothing breeds success like successful people.”
In addition to his work at the helm of Estel Foods, Inc., Williams has served on the JAG-Missouri Board of Directors. He has also served on several community boards. They include Ronald McDonald House, Lessie Bates Neighborhood House, One Hundred Black Men of St. Louis, Granite City Rotary Club, Granite City Chamber of Commerce, Emma L. King Wilson Foundation, Matthew Dickey Boys and Girls Club, St. Louis Downtown Partnership, U.S. Veterans, and the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club and others.
Among his many awards include being named Entrepreneur of the Year for the 2013 Salute to Excellence in Business Awards presented by The St. Louis American Foundation and the St. Louis Commerce Businessman of the Year Award.
Wiliams, who is the son of former East St. Louis Mayor James E. Williams, Sr. and Lillian Williams, has been to 29 countries and seen the world. But for him, the greatest achievement of his professional life is his ability to live the American dream.
“For me to be able to do business all across the region – including my hometown of East St. Louis – I’m very grateful for it,” Williams said “Each and every day, I count my blessings. I really do.”
Of all the truly wonderful people I had the pleasure to meet Jimmy heads the pack. We are likeminded in know what we do others is the banner in which we live. As Jimmy has unselfishly elevated himself, he’s elevated everyone he comes in contact with. This is a man all should strive to emulate, never stop as it would be a great loss for all of us who try to create the best version of ourselves!!!
Jimmy is and has always been a great leader in whatever he has ever been involved in. We appreciate and cherish our McDonald’s family friendship over the many years that Jimmy’s been with us as a McDonald’s Owner
He has remained a hometown hero with all of his friends by allowing us to ride with him in his many adventures together with his leadership. Thank you Jimmy. Marty and Donna Davis
Just want to let you know, this is one of the worst McDonald’s I’ve ever been to. Food doesn’t taste the same, the workers don’t hardly understand what you want. Ordered happy meals and there were no toys. This is hard to understand.