In a nutshell, our story started in the small southern town of Oxford, Mississippi. A movie production had taken an old service station and retrofitted it into a 1950’s-style diner. After they finished, it sat vacant until a dentist bought the property. He had a vision of turning the abandoned set into a small restaurant. And in 1989—you guessed it—the first McAlister’s opened its doors. Much like today, we offered a unique menu with sandwiches, salads, spuds and a heaping spoonful of southern hospitality. We quickly became known for our great food, large portions, wide variety, and a welcoming environment… also one heck of a glass of sweet tea.