---
title: "QSR Magazine: McAlister’s Deli Breaks Ground in Iowa"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/4e84409b-8426-407f-ae2c-ced3e89ce4fd
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-mcalisters-deli-breaks-ground-in-iowa-2704548
category: "Sandwich & sub"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Sandwich & sub"
published: 2017-10-09T18:13:45.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T03:02:25.836Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/793e27be9aa9cbbf46fb708ae2a2edaf2158.jpg
---

# QSR Magazine: McAlister’s Deli Breaks Ground in Iowa

**TL;DR:** McAlister's Deli breaks ground on its first location in Iowa, marking the brand's expansion into the Upper Midwest region. The brand will open its first location in Iowa on October 13 in West Des Moines.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-10-09. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-mcalisters-deli-breaks-ground-in-iowa-2704548).*

## Story

McAlister’s Deli has focused development in the Upper Midwest region of the country. According to a recent QSR Magazine article , the brand will be opening its first location in Iowa on October 13 in West Des Moines.

“Opening the first McAlister’s in Iowa underscores our strategic plan to expand the brand’s footprint not only across Iowa, with deals in place to cover the entire state, but throughout the broader Upper Midwest region,” said Paul Macaluso, president of McAlister’s. “Our strong and dedicated franchisees are at the heart of why we’re able to introduce McAlister’s to more diners across the U.S.”

McAlister’s reported nearly $600 million in system-wide sales in 2016 with 33 restaurant openings and now 400 locations in total. The new Iowa store marks the brand’s presence in 28 states. With a focus on handcrafted food and hospitality, McAlister’s has come a long way since its start in 1989 in an Oxford, Mississippi gas station.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- McAlister's Deli (company)
- iowa (location)
- regional growth (topic)
- Paul Macaluso (person)
- Upper Midwest (location)
- West Des Moines (location)
- brand footprint (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/qsr-magazine-mcalisters-deli-breaks-ground-in-iowa-2704548). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/4e84409b-8426-407f-ae2c-ced3e89ce4fd).