Celebrating Atlantic City’s Business Icons: A Street Dedication to Entrepreneurial Excellence

The Atlantic City community has been lovin’ longtime Atlantic City McDonald’s owners Rita and Anthony Mack for the last four decades, and they’ve been lovin’ the community right back. And now, the City of Atlantic City has honored these two community icons with a street dedication recognizing their nearly 40 years of business excellence, community impact, and entrepreneurial leadership in the city.

Arctic Avenue between Michigan and Arkansas Avenues has been named Rita and Anthony Mack Avenue, paying tribute to the couple who owned and operated multiple McDonald’s franchises in Atlantic City, with their first one purchased in June 1986 and final one sold in May 2024 as they embarked on a much-deserved retirement.

The Macks are the definition of successful entrepreneurship in Atlantic City. Long before casinos dominated the city’s economy, there was a generation of African American business leaders who built strong, community-based enterprises that anchored neighborhoods and provided opportunity. Today, as Atlantic City’s Economic Development division under the Department of Planning and Development works to revitalize that same spirit of local ownership and empowerment, the Macks stand as living proof that businesses –especially minority-owned ones - can not only survive but thrive in Atlantic City. Rita and Anthony Mack have been the blueprint for success, showing what’s possible through hard work, generosity, and a deep commitment to community.

“We really appreciate your many years of service, your selflessservice, and your dedication to the Great City of Atlantic City community," Mayor Small told the Macks during the Street Dedication Ceremony in theirhonor. It was during this ceremony that the couple also received a customstreet sign to take home, symbolizing the enduring legacy they have built.

Rita and Anthony Mack expressed deep gratitude for the recognition and for the community that supported them from the beginning.

“We are incredibly honored and humbled to receive this awesome recognition,” said Rita Mack. “The renaming of this city block to Rita and Anthony Mack Avenue is an undeniable dream for us. It’s the very block where we began our business journey in 1986, and we are thrilled beyond belief.”

Reflecting on their journey, Rita added:

“They say the most critical factors in choosing a franchise arelocation, location, location. I must say, we struck gold when we purchased ourArkansas Avenue site. But we were also blessed to find ourselves in asupportive and caring community. From the very beginning, this community hasembraced and supported us in so many ways.”

The Macks hope that others — especially young people and aspiringentrepreneurs — will be inspired each time they pass Rita and Anthony MackAvenue, a lasting reminder that dreams can be built right here in Atlantic City.

Their name now rightfully takes its place in the heart of Atlantic City in recognition of their extraordinary contributions.

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