Austin’s McDonalds restaurants to change hands
Published 6:41 am Monday, October 19, 2009
Both McDonald’s restaurants in Austin will change hands at the end of this month.
Dave Schere, of Austin, who has owned both since 2002, sold the restaurants to Courtesy Corporation, headquarted in Onalaska, Wis.
The fast-food restaurant on Oakland Avenue has been in the Schere family for 40 years.
“My dad (Art Scherer) started the main one in Austin in 1969,” Schere said.
Schere also owns three McDonalds in Albert Lea and one in Clear Lake, Iowa. One of his Albert Lea locations is for sale.
Schere’s grandmother, Dorothy Irish, opened the first McDonalds of the family in Mason City, Iowa in 1959.
When his father retired, Schere purchased the Oakland restaurant from him. In 2002, he opened another McDonalds near Ankeny’s Mini Mart. Schere began purchasing McDonalds in Albert Lea in 1990.
Courtesy Corporation owns 39 McDonald’s restaurants throughout western Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and Decorah, Iowa. It is owned and operated by Dick and Rick Lommen.
Representatives for Courtesy Corporation said they will disclose their plans for the restaurants at the end of October.
The McDonald’s restaurants are located at 1009 Oakland Ave. W. and 1400 14 St. SW.