Margaret McLaughlin, with Hope Mayor Don Still's assistance, cuts the ribbon on her new restaurant Big Mac's Barbeecue.

Big Mac's Barbeecue, which had been operating for a year as a food truck now has its own sit-down location at 2703 North Hazel in Hope.

Before the ribbon-cutting Hope Mayor Don Still interviewed the restaurant's owner, Margaret McLaughlin, about the origin of her business' name. She said her father, a New Yorker, was known as Big Mac, but since he had passed away Margaret had inherited his name.

She credited Sheba Smith, who runs Sheba's Family Restaurant, for letting McLaughlin borrow some of her oil.

McLaughlin told SWARK.Today the time between confirming she had the building available and today's opening had been "overwhelming" because of the work involved, but when asked how she felt about the some 35 people packing the restaurant today she said it made her happy and she looked forward to serving her customers for a long time to come.

After McLaughlin, surrounded by staffers and city officials, cut the red ribbon, she and her staff served the combination of American barbecue and Asian cuisine Big Mac's Barbeecue has become known for: brisket sliders, Asian noodles and vegetables, barbecue egg rolls and banana egg rolls for dessert.

McLaughlin said she has eight staff members to help her now. Big Mac's Barbeecue hours will run Tue-Thu. 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m, and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.