McDonald's opens in Soběslav as franchisee's portfolio reaches 13 restaurants

McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Soběslav, a town in the Czech Republic, on Monday 26 October 2026. Located on the outskirts of town near a D3 motorway junction, the restaurant aims to attract both local customers and motorists travelling between Prague and South Bohemia. It is run by franchisee Michal Mládek, who now operates 13 restaurants in the chain, most of them in South Bohemia.

A new stop on the D3 motorway

The Soběslav restaurant adds another South Bohemian location to the brand's network, in a town where it previously had no outlet. According to local newspaper Táborský deník, the restaurant is situated right next to the motorway junction. At the opening, Mládek highlighted its accessibility for drivers arriving from Prague as well as those travelling in the opposite direction.

‘We want drivers on the D3 to enjoy stopping here for a break just as much as local people do,’ said Mládek. His comments identify the two customer groups the new restaurant is targeting: residents of the town and surrounding area, and travellers using the motorway. It is therefore not simply a stop for passing traffic, but also an addition to local dining options.

Access from both directions is one of the main reasons the operator gives for choosing the site. The opening alone, however, does not reveal what proportion of visits will come from local residents and what proportion from motorists. When assessing the location, it is useful to distinguish the intended customer groups from the new restaurant's actual performance.

An established multi-unit franchisee behind the opening

For those interested in the Czech franchise market, the operator is also significant. According to the published report, Michal Mládek now runs 13 McDonald's restaurants as a franchisee. Most are in South Bohemia. The Soběslav opening therefore marks a further expansion by an experienced brand partner in a region where he already has a presence.

The news provides a concrete example of multi-unit franchising, in which one partner manages several outlets. It is neither an announcement seeking new franchise applicants nor the launch of a new concept. Rather, it concerns an actual restaurant opening by an established operator with multiple locations.

The figure of 13 restaurants describes the scale of Mládek's operations within the network, not the size of the brand's entire Czech business. Similarly, the regional concentration of his outlets should not be confused with exclusive territorial rights. For prospective franchisees, the main point of interest is the combination of a well-known brand, an identifiable local operator and an additional site in his core region.

McDrive, a café and family facilities

The new restaurant offers the full menu, including breakfast, available from 7am. It also has a full McCafé offering coffee drinks and desserts. Other facilities and services include a McDrive drive-through, table service and an outdoor Playland children's playground.

This mix caters for different types of visit. Drivers can use the drive-through, while guests who want to spend their break inside the restaurant can opt for table service. The outdoor playground adds to the facilities for families with children, while the café offers a reason to visit beyond ordering a main meal.

Customers can order at the counter or use one of four double-sided self-service kiosks. The restaurant therefore retains face-to-face ordering alongside a self-service option. The number of kiosks is a specific detail about the restaurant's equipment, but is not in itself a measure of service speed or the overall capacity of the operation.

Opening hours and what the new location offers

The restaurant and McDrive are open daily from 7am to 11pm. McCafé has shorter hours, opening daily from 7am to 8pm. This distinction matters particularly to visitors stopping in the evening: the restaurant remains open after the café section closes.

The daily opening hours accommodate both breakfast and later evening visits. Combined with its location near the D3 and its range of services, the restaurant is set up for both brief stops during a journey and sit-down visits. The published information describes its services and accessibility, however, rather than the outlet's financial performance.

Practical takeaway: For prospective franchisees, the Soběslav opening offers a useful set of questions when assessing their own site: where will customers come from, is the location accessible from both directions, and which services suit the visits they are likely to make? Proximity to a motorway alone should not replace an assessment of the overall operating plan.