at montes family mcdonald's our vision is To serve safe and delicious food by hiring, training, and retaining the best team to run profitable restaurants, positively impact our local community, and support a Culture of Care.
Our story
Montes Family McDonald’s was founded on April 15th, 1985 when Cuban immigrants Armando and Manolita Montes opened their first restaurant in the Little Havana area of Miami, FL.
In 1980, prior to opening their first restaurant, Armando applied to the
McDonald’s Registered Applicant Program and completed five years of training, working towards becoming an approved Owner/Operator. At the same time, Jose left his career in banking and applied at his local McDonald’s, where he quickly worked his way up the ranks from Crew to Shift Manager to General Manager. In 1984, Jose hired his now-wife, Milly, who also started as crew.
Jose became an approved Owner/Operator in 1990, and in 2000, after 15 years and four restaurants, Armando and Manolita decided to hang up their spatulas and sell two of their restaurants to Jose and Milly; the other two restaurants were sold to their daughter, Yoyi Rodriguez. Milly quickly found her passion with McDonald’s, and became an approved Owner/Operator in 2001.
Melissa, Jose and Milly’s daughter, joined the family business in 2008 when the organization grew from two to five restaurants, and became an Owner/Operator in 2014. Kristina, their younger daughter joined in 2012, and became approved in 2018.
Today, the Montes Family owns and operates 14 restaurants in South and Southwest Florida.
The Montes Family is passionate about their people and about serving the communities in which they do business. They work closely with local schools and organizations, such as The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, as well as law enforcement and first responders, and are avid supporters of the Ronald McDonald Houses of Miami and Ft. Myers.
Learn More about Ronald McDonald House of Miami & Ronald McDonald House of SW Florida.