JJC Family Restaurants owns and operates
19 area McDonald’s locations

By Maureen Callahan

“One in eight Americans have worked at McDonald’s. You might see the golden arches and think, ‘big, global corporation,’ but it’s us behind it,” said West suburban businessman, John Carnagio. “All across the world, these [individual McDonald’s restaurants] are family businesses.”

You might have passed a two-story grey brick building at the corner of Fairview and Burlington, just south of the tracks. A Ronald McDonald statue sits in the window. The building is the home base of JJC Family Restaurants. John Carnagio and his son Joe are franchisees of 19 – soon to be 20 – area McDonald’s restaurants. “The building [on Burlington] is our headquarters,” said John. “We have offices, hold meetings, and do managerial training here.”   

The statue seated in the front window was rescued from their McDonald’s in Joliet before it closed. “He was a little beat up, but nothing a trip to an autobody shop for touch-up paint couldn’t fix,” said John with a smile. “We just thought kids would like to see him in the window.”John’s affiliation with the world’s most iconic restaurant goes way back. He had always wanted to work in this realm. Early on, a relative who was already in the business suggested John try his hand at franchising a McDonald’s. So, at 24 years old, he threw his proverbial hat into the ring.

He was rejected.

“I was turned down for all the obvious reasons,” John relayed. “My age, no experience, not enough money – the usual.” But he got to know the person who rejected him. Eventually, he was accepted into the training program. He positioned himself strategically with the Chicago executives. “I figured if they liked me, they would keep me around.”

Although it was a grind, John’s hard work paid off. McDonalds’ training program is unpaid, so he worked nights simultaneously and got through it. “Toward the end, they put a map in front of me and asked me where I was willing to go,” said John. “I said ‘anywhere.’”

John and Joe visiting John’s first McDonald’s in Channahon, IL in 1996.

That was 1996. Corporate was looking to open a store in Channahon, near Joliet. At the time, it was the middle of nowhere. John and his wife Joanne moved to the rural area to own and operate the McDonald’s located in the gas station off Route 6.

It wasn’t a high-volume location, so it turned out to be the perfect place to start. He was able to learn without being overwhelmed. “For me, it was great because when you own a McDonald’s, you’re not just the owner, you’re also the ‘owner-operator,’ which is like being a manager as well,” said John.

He took orders, made drinks, and scrubbed floors alongside his crew. He did what needed to be done. Over time, he hired great managers. “It’s never just about your own hard work,” said John. “In order to succeed, you need the right leadership around you.”

To that end, John’s son Joe came on board a few years ago as an owner/operator. He acts as a director for all the family’s restaurants. But he earned his own way. He grew up working in the restaurants in between sports seasons. He studied digital marketing in college, after which he worked for ESPN for a few years.

“My dad never pushed the business on his kids, which I really appreciate,” said Joe. But that doesn’t mean the road was any easier for him. Joe paid his dues on the upward climb. “I flipped the burgers, dealt with the customers, and scrubbed the toilets the same as anyone else did while they trained. It was a good thing because I was able to earn the respect of those around me.”

“It couldn’t have worked out better for us,” said John, “as that was about the time everything behind the counter was going digital, and Joe was able to help us get everything up to speed at all our locations.”

When asked his favorite aspect of being an owner/operator, Joe replied, “taking orders and doing drinks. You get to chat with the customers.”

John and Joe wearing McDonald’s sponsored baseball team shirts 2002.

 “Each store has a family behind it.”
– John Carnagio

Getting to know the community is something McDonald’s owner/operators take very seriously. From supporting kids’ sports teams to having local school fundraisers, they do a lot for their neighborhood. Teacher’s Nights have area teachers make drinks and ice cream cones and deliver orders to their students’ families over two-hour shifts. Twenty percent of the proceeds go back to the school.

“We strive to be good neighbors and not just a business,” said John. “We get to know the locals and support them. That’s one of the best things about this job.”

Joe, John and Joanne Carnagio at the McDonald’s Worldwide Convention in 2024

McDonalds’ Archways to Opportunities program offers financial assistance to employees working toward their high school diploma, college credit or ESL. “In Chicago alone, we have done over $10 million toward this program,” said John. “It’s important to us.”

JJC is currently building its twentieth McDonald’s on the border of Downers Grove and Woodridge.

While the Carnagio’s path is inspiring, it’s definitely not one of a kind. Every McDonald’s – from the ones off exit ramps on interstates, to those found in towns and cities across the nation, has its own individual owner and story. The details vary, but the threads are similar. John attests his narrative is not unique. “Each store has a family behind it,” he said.

“We live in the communities of our restaurants,” said John. “We care about the people we serve.”

It shows.