Please sign the Visitors log inside the museum, the museum is
free.
Original McDonalds Restaurant
In 1940 The McDonald brothers, Richard and Maurice, opened the
freshly moved building on this site as the first McDonalds
Restaurant. The original building, since demolished, was moved by
truck from Arcadia where it was known as the Airdome restaurant,
operated by the brothers at that location since 1937.
Hamburgers cost $.15 each.
In 1948, the brothers analyzed their business, and realized that
the Hamburgers were the mainstay, so they closed and reopened with
an assembly line for hamburgers, dropping the other items from the
menu.
In 1953, the original building was replaced with one that was
rectangular, and had "Golden Arches." The first of this style was
the Phoenix Arizona restaurant which had opened earlier in the
year.
The McDonalds' success encouraged others to imitate them. Based
on his observation of their burger stand, Keith Cramer began a
fast-food hamburger restaurant in Florida which eventually became
the Burger King chain.
The Following year Ray Kroc visited and convinced the brothers
to let him franchise the business. Ray Kroc opened his first
franchise in Des Plains, Illinois. Even today the McDonalds Corp
considers the Des Plains unit to be the FIRST, discounting the
history of Dick and Mac McDonald.
In 1961 Ray Kroc bought out the McDonalds brothers for $2.7
million. The McDonald Brothers kept the first two restaurants, but
were forced to rename them.
The following year Ray opened a new McDonalds at 15th and E
Streets, 1 short block away. This eventually drove the original
McDonalds, now called "Big M" out of business.
By 1968 the original McDonalds property had been sold to Neal
Baker, owner of Baker's Tacos. Baker's is now also a large regional
Fastfood chain. Neal Baker's restaurants innovated a multi-cultural
approach, a Twin Kitchen, Mexican and American menus were offered,
and still are.
The site is currently owned by Albert Okura owner and founder of
Juan Pollo Restaurants, the same restaurants whose rottisserie
Chicken inspired the "El Pollo Loco" Chain, also founded in San
Bernardino, on Route 66.
Cachers- Please, if you have any OLDER McDonalds please
consider donating them.
Please sign the Museum guest book. The Museum is open: 10:00 to
5:00 daily.
In 2003, the Route 66 Museum opened on the site, the museum is
full of McDonalds memorabilia and Route 66 items. The Route 66
Museum is being relocated to the Northeast corner of %th and Mt.
Vernon. (The original Juan Pollo Restaurant)
Question: Who was the original Ronald McDonald? Email your
answer to Team Geocan
Original McDonalds
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Leopard Skin Pillbox
Just Beat it!!
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The 15 Freeway hill
The Oak Hill Experience
Scenic Rt. 66
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California Rt. 66 museum