First Posted: 1/15/2009

Bob Shiles
Staff writer
PARKTON — When Parkton native Gerald McMillan would visit his hometown for holidays, it always struck him that this small community only had one eatery.
“It is nothing like in Atlanta or Miami. You can’t get anything to eat here after 2 p.m.,” he said. “You have to drive 30 minutes from the town when you want to go out to dinner.”
With that in mind, McMillan recently decided to hang up his hat as a university system financial administrator and pursue his dream of owning and operating his own restaurant.
“I want to get away from the rush of the city, ” McMillan said. “I want to come back and give to my community (Parkton) what I have learned about restaurants.
The answer to McMillan’s dream is Mac’s Grill and Catering. Although the catering business is already under way, the grill will officially open at 202 N. Fayetteville Street on Feb.19. The small restaurant has a seating capacity of 14 and will feature American modern cuisine, including appetizers, burgers, salads, and hot soups.
“It will be a little more on the gourmet side,” he said. “All food will be cooked fresh when ordered.”
Customers can expect different lunch and dinner specials, McMillan said. As possible specials he cited the Mac Burger — his own creation of ground beef, fried egg, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato — and a peanut butter, jelly and hot hickory smoked bacon sandwich.
Although this is his first venture as a restaurant owner, McMillan, 38, said that he has been involved in different aspects of the restaurant business off and on for 15 years. For two years he managed Adelio’s Restaurant in Lumberton.
McMillan said he plans to have his restaurant open six days a week. Hours will be Tuesdays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., take-out only.
To place orders or make reservations, call (910) 858-1280.