|
Your
Kind Of Place
(I'm Lovin' It!)
This is the
site of the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant, opened in 1953
by their namesakes, brothers Maurice and Richard McDonald.
This was their fourth restaurant, having opened their first in 1948
in San Bernardino. However, the previous three restaurants
have since been destroyed, making this the oldest operating
McDonalds in the world.
Not only has
the restaurant survived (After being closed for two years during
repairs from the Northridge earthquake in 1994) but the original
60-foot tall Speedee the Chef neon sign is still there.
Speedee is the original mascot of McDonalds, long before the clown
got involved.
Two years
after this McDonalds was established, and having a chain of eight
McDonald's restaurants, the brothers partnered with Ray Kroc, a
milkshake-machine salesman who was inspired by their idea to
franchise their restaurant, and became the first franchsier.
Six years later, in 1961, Ray Kroc bought the company from the
McDonald brothers for $2.7 million and a verbal agreement to give
them 1% royalties. Ray later renegged on the royalties since
the agreement was not in writing. Contrary to popular belief,
Ray Kroc was not the founder of McDonald's; he simply franchised,
and then purchased the company.
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| Downey McDonalds Then.... |
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| Downey McDonald's Now |
Now that we've brought you to this historical
site, you have a job to do... Go out and seek the
cache. It's a small container, hidden near this historic
building. It holds a logbook, and can hold small trade items
or travelbugs / geocoins.
GOOD LUCK and HAPPY
CACHING! |