Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) and his wife, Teresa, have sold their McDonald's franchises after nearly 50 years of ownership. The sale, announced on July 13, marks the end of a business journey that began when Edwards took his first job at McDonald's at age 16.
The franchises were sold to longtime friends and fellow franchisees Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville, North Carolina. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. Edwards stated that the sale allows him to devote more time to serving western North Carolina in Congress.
'McDonald's changed the course of my life,' Edwards said in a statement. 'It taught me the value of hard work, personal responsibility, teamwork and serving others.'
The Edwardses built their business over decades, expanding from a single restaurant to multiple locations across western North Carolina. Teresa Edwards took over day-to-day management after her husband was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2016, allowing the business to continue operating while he served in public office.
'There is no question that Teresa made this possible,' Edwards said. 'She carried the responsibility of managing our business for nearly a decade while I served.'
The sale comes amid Edwards' congressional duties, which he has held since 2023. The buyers, the Nevants, have owned McDonald's restaurants in the Asheville area for years.