Episode #204
Michael Rodewald: Montcalm County McDonald’s Story
McDonald’s Restaurant Franchise in Montcalm County Discover how Michael Rodewald of MLW Management Inc. built a 11-location McDonald’s franchise network across Montcalm County and West Michigan. The Story of MLW Management: Building a Legacy in Montcalm County When people see the famous Golden Arches of McDonald’s, they often think of a global corporate giant. But on the local level, individual restaurants are driven by local business owners, local crews, and deep roots in the community. On the latest episode of the Discover Montcalm Podcast , host Duane Weed sat down with Michael Rodewald , Owner/Operator of MLW Management, Inc. , to discuss his family’s multi-generational history with McDonald’s, expanding across West Michigan, and opening his 11th location in Howard City, MI. From Crew Member to McDonald’s Franchisee: The Rodewald Family Journey A Legacy That Started in 1974 The Rodewald family story with McDonald’s spans over five decades. It began when Michael’s father, Eric Rodewald, moved to Grand Rapids as a 16-year-old looking for a gas station job. When no gas stations were hiring, he walked into a local McDonald’s on the north side of Grand Rapids. Starting as a crew member, Eric spent 23 years learning every position in restaurant operations and management. In 1996, he realized his dream of entrepreneurship by purchasing his first group of McDonald’s franchises in Montcalm County. Operating MLW Management, Inc. Across Montcalm County and West Michigan Michael Rodewald officially became an approved McDonald’s owner-operator on October 1, 2014, taking over his first store in Stanton, MI. McDonald’s maintains rigorous vetting and operational training for franchisees, ensuring that operators prioritize local community relationships alongside operational excellence. Today, Michael leads MLW Management, Inc. , overseeing 11 locations across Montcalm, Mecosta, Isabella, and Ionia counties: Big Rapids: 1020 S State St, Big Rapids, MI 49307 Howard City: 750 Shaw St, Howard City, MI 49329 Lakeview: 9150 Howard City Edmore Rd, Lakeview, MI 48850 Edmore: 807 Main St, Edmore, MI 48829 Stanton: 329 E Main St, Stanton, MI 48888 Portland: 1432 E Grand River Ave, Portland, MI 48875 Mount Pleasant (4 Locations): 1804 S Mission St, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 1963 E Remus Rd, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 5600 E Pickard St, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 904 E Pickard St, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 Shepherd: 550 E Wright Ave, Shepherd, MI 48883 Bringing a New McDonald’s to Howard City Opening a new ground-up location requires extensive demographic and traffic analytics from corporate, combined with local municipal collaboration. Discussions for a Howard City location began years prior with village leadership. On June 25, the brand-new Howard City store officially held its grand opening at 750 Shaw St. From supporting local high school sports programs—like donating soccer equipment to Tri County High School during their grand opening—to giving back to community initiatives, MLW Management focuses on local involvement. “At the end of the day, the ones who are here trying to get it right for you are local business owners doing everything we can to deliver on our promises,” says Rodewald. Contact & Local Updates For local store updates, community events, and customer feedback, follow their regional store pages on Facebook (search “McDonald’s Stanton”). Owner/Operator: Michael Rodewald | MLW Management, Inc. Discover Montcalm County: Greenville Carson City Stanton Howard City Lakeview Edmore Sheridan Pierson McBride Trufant Six Lakes Vestaburg Crystal Gowen Coral Watch or Listen to the Full Episode This episode is especially helpful to watch on YouTube where screen examples are shown. Find Discover Montcalm Podcast on: YouTube Facebook Instagram Apple Podcasts Pandora iHeart Discover Montcalm is powered by the friends of the podcast It takes a community. Special thanks to: West Michigan Technology and Design Solutions WGLM 106.3 FM DW Video Business Growth Engine BluBrry Podcast Platform Together, we are building something bigger than a podcast—we are building a digital legacy . What’s New in 2026 We’re not slowing down—we’re expanding. On-Location Podcasting We now bring the podcast to your business , capturing your story in your environment. Chatting Local Segments Expanding beyond Montcalm County—while keeping our local roots strong. Tech Tuesdays Practical insights on: SEO Podcasting AI tools Digital growth strategies Your Story is the Fuel When you sit down on the Discover Montcalm Podcast, you’re not just promoting your organization. You’re: Strengthening the community Expanding local reach Creating lasting digital content Helping Montcalm County grow Discover Montcalm Podcast Produced by Duane Weed of DW Video & Multimedia LLC Celebrating over 40 years of storytelling and media production in Montcalm County. Contact Call 231-250-9624 Duane Weed at 231-250-9624 or duane@dwvideo.com . Together, let’s showcase the heart of Montcalm County, one story at a time. Check out this video! Love stories that celebrate local people, places, and progress? Subscribe to the Discover Montcalm Podcast and explore the voices that shape Montcalm County and beyond. Have a story to share? Contact host Duane Weed at 231-250-9624 or duane@dwvideo.com to be featured in a future episode — whether at your location or in-studio. Catch up on all episodes and discover the soul of small-town Michigan: discovermontcalmpodcast.com/category/podcast Follow us and be part of a growing community of storytellers. Produced by: https://www.dwvideo.com #DiscoverMontcalm #DiscoverMontcalmPodcast #MontcalmCounty #LocalVoices #MichiganPodcasts #CommunityMatters #SupportLocalStories Ever wondered what it takes to run a local McDonald's franchise? The Michael Rodewald story episode 204 by Discover Montcalm Podcast https://discovermontcalmpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Michael-Rodewald-McDonalds-Franchise-Owner-episode-204.mp3 Discover Montcalm Audio Podcast Check out the podcast all about Montcalm County Michigan.
