- The Miller family has owned and operated McDonald’s restaurants in Acadiana, Louisiana, for more than 40 years.
- Larry Miller’s parents started the family business in 1982 after relocating from Illinois.
- Larry’s daughter, Haley, now co-owns and operates 13 McDonald’s locations.
This Father’s Day, the Miller family of Acadiana reflects on more than just the bonds of fatherhood — they celebrate more than 40 years of shared history, hard work and heart at McDonald’s.
For Larry Miller and his daughter Haley, running a family business under the Golden Arches is more than burgers and fries. It’s about community, legacy and the lessons that come with building something together.
The Miller McDonald’s story began in 1982 when Larry’s parents opened their first restaurant in Abbeville after making a major life change. His parents were living in northern suburban Chicago. In their 50s, they owned a beauty shop, where his father did the hair and his mother was the manicurist and bookkeeper.
“My father was volunteering his time in the evenings at various Chicagoland McDonald’s while training to become a McDonald’s owner/operator,” Larry Miller said.
Larry was a college freshman when his father called to say the family would be relocating to Louisiana to open a McDonald’s.
“We moved from a large four-bedroom house in Northbrook, Illinois, to a two-bedroom apartment in Abbeville,” Larry Miller said. “My first experience behind the counter was at the grand opening in November 1982. It was as if everyone in the town came out to the opening. It was a big deal, it was nonstop.”
Working alongside his parents, Larry met his future wife, Denise, also a McDonald’s crew member. Together, they grew their business and their family, always focused on service and community.
Today, their daughter Haley helps lead the charge as an owner/operator of 13 McDonald’s restaurants across Acadiana.
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I went to college and got a degree in psychology,” Haley Miller said. “Once I decided to work with McDonald’s, I went back to graduate school and got my master’s in business administration. But I use both my psychology background and my MBA daily.”
The Millers take pride in operating in close-knit communities.
“Living and operating in smaller communities allows you to get to know your customers, the community, and what their needs are,” Larry Miller said.
Haley added they get to interact with the community daily, and they get to team up with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Solomon House and ARC of Acadiana.
For Larry, watching Haley step into leadership has been a highlight.
“One of my favorite moments was watching Haley, at 29 years old, in one of our restaurants, presenting our organization’s strategies and metrics to the McDonald’s senior leadership team,” Larry Miller said.
Another favorite moment was in 2024, when Haley’s name and picture flashed up on a screen as she was recognized for an award as an owner/operator.
“That’s when I knew it was real, and that she made it and has earned the respect of her peers and the corporation,” Larry Miller said.
The Millers say balancing family and business isn’t always easy.
“It’s fun to have something in common, but then often the conversations always seem to slide back into business, which creates a dynamic that can take away from the special events or holidays,” Larry Miller said.
For other families in business together, Haley said having open communication is important to success.
“Business is not easy, and as a family, there can be different obstacles that you have to navigate, but if you keep an open mind and can talk to each other, you’ll be better for it,” Haley Miller said.
Ultimately, both father and daughter agree that staying connected to their team and community is crucial.
“The way we keep the family feeling is by getting to know the employees, the families, and their issues,” Larry Miller said. “We have often been able to keep employees longer because they come to us and explain their situations, and we often can offer some type of assistance.”
Haley said they are always discussing ways to build a culture of care within the team.
“We try to celebrate the successes as much as possible,” Haley Miller said.