Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and his wife, Teresa, have stepped away from the Golden Arches life. The couple has sold the McDonald's restaurants they operated across Western North Carolina, according to a news release shared Monday. The buyers are Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville, longtime McDonald's franchisees, and the Edwards family is calling the move the close of a decades-long chapter that will let them pour more of their time into public service.
Sale details from the release
According to WLOS, the release identified Christine and Chris Nevant of Asheville as the purchasers and described the deal as the end of a five-decade story that began when Edwards first took a job at McDonald's as a teenager. The statement did not reveal how much the restaurants sold for or list the precise number of locations involved, although it noted that the Edwardses owned stores in Henderson, Transylvania and Haywood counties. The family said the sale “allows the Edwards family to fully transition from business ownership and devote more attention to public service,” according to the release.
Protests and local pushback
The timing also follows months of political heat around Edwards’ dual role as congressman and McDonald's franchise owner. Local demonstrators have targeted both his positions in Washington and his restaurants at home, with some protests moving from the sidewalks into dining rooms. The Assembly reported that activists went inside a Hendersonville McDonald's in March and that Edwards’ business office later sent a letter banning one protester from six C. Edwards Group properties in Hendersonville, Canton, Flat Rock and Brevard.
Edwards' business roots and public role
Edwards represents North Carolina’s 11th District, which spans much of the western mountains, and his official biography leans heavily on his story as a Hendersonville businessman who moved into politics. Edwards' congressional site highlights constituent services and economic development as key priorities, and the family has long had its name tied to McDonald's franchises throughout the region.
The buyers
The Nevants are not newcomers to the local fast-food landscape. Public business listings show a Nevant Operations dba McDonald's based in Asheville that shares hiring notices and operational updates. Nevant Operations' LinkedIn features their restaurants and leadership in the Asheville area, which indicates the couple already runs McDonald's locations in the region.
What Edwards said
In the statement quoted by WLOS, Edwards credited the company with reshaping his future, saying, “McDonald's changed the course of my life,” and offered thanks to employees and customers who backed the family business through the years. The outlet also reported that Teresa Edwards thanked “incredible employees” and loyal customers for standing by the restaurants over time.
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