You’ve probably seen the movie The Founder. Or maybe you've just seen the gold arches looming over every highway in America. Most people think they know the story. They picture Ray Kroc, a sleek 1950s Illinois, and a red-and-white tiled building. But if you're asking where was the first McDonald's restaurant located, the answer depends entirely on who you ask—and what you consider a "McDonald's."
The truth is a bit messy. It involves a dusty corner of California, a failed barbecue joint, and a bitter rivalry that literally paved over history.
The San Bernardino Roots
The absolute, technical answer to where was the first McDonald's restaurant located is 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino, California. This wasn't some corporate-designed franchise. In 1940, two brothers named Richard and Maurice (Dick and Mac) McDonald opened "McDonald’s Bar-B-Q."
It was a classic drive-in. They had carhops—young women in short skirts who ran food out to your car. The menu was huge! We’re talking 25 different items, mostly slow-cooked ribs and pork.
But there was a problem.
The carhops were slow. They spent too much time flirting. The brothers noticed that even with 25 items on the menu, 80% of their sales were just hamburgers. Honestly, they were tired of the hassle. In 1948, they did something crazy. They fired everyone, closed for three months, and reopened with a tiny menu: burgers, shakes, and fries.
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This was the birth of the "Speedee Service System." It changed the world.
Wait, What About Illinois?
This is where it gets confusing for folks. If you go to Des Plaines, Illinois, you used to be able to visit a place called "McDonald’s #1 Store Museum." For decades, the corporation pushed the narrative that this was the first one.
Ray Kroc, the guy who eventually bought out the brothers, opened his first franchise there in 1955. Because Kroc was the one who turned it into a global empire, he essentially restarted the clock. He called it "Store #1."
It’s kinda like saying a band didn’t exist until they got a new lead singer. Sure, they’re more famous now, but the original guys were still playing in a garage for years.
The Des Plaines location was actually the ninth McDonald’s ever built. But Kroc was a marketing genius. He wanted the world to believe the story started with him. Unfortunately, that replica museum in Illinois was torn down in 2018 because of constant flooding. Now it’s just a grassy lot.
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What’s Left at the Original Site?
If you drive to that San Bernardino corner today, don't expect to see a Big Mac. The original building was demolished in 1972.
But it’s not just an empty street.
A guy named Albert Okura, who founded the Juan Pollo chicken chain, bought the property in the late 90s. He was obsessed with the history. He turned the site into the Unofficial McDonald’s Museum. It’s packed with weird, wonderful stuff:
- Original "Speedee" signs from the 40s.
- Old Happy Meal toys that’ll make you feel ancient.
- Foreign McDonald's menus.
- Newspaper clippings from when a burger cost 15 cents.
It's free to get in. It feels a bit like a garage sale of fast-food history, but it’s authentic. It’s the actual dirt where the concept of "fast food" was invented.
The Oldest One You Can Still Eat At
If you want to actually eat a burger at a "first" location, you have to head to Downey, California. Located at the corner of Lakewood Blvd and Florence Ave, this is the third McDonald’s ever built (opened in 1953).
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It’s a time capsule.
It still has the massive 30-foot neon arches that don’t even form an "M"—they just go over the building. It’s the only place where you can still get the original deep-fried apple pies (the ones that burn the roof of your mouth) instead of the baked ones they sell everywhere else.
Why Does This Matter?
Understanding where was the first McDonald's restaurant located helps you see the "American Dream" for what it really is: a mix of brilliant invention and ruthless expansion. The brothers invented the tech; Kroc invented the scale.
Next steps for history buffs: If you’re ever in Southern California, skip the modern drive-thru for a day. Start at the museum in San Bernardino (1398 N E St) to see where it began, then drive 50 miles west to the Downey location to eat a burger in a building that hasn’t changed since the 50s.
Actionable Insights:
- Visit the Museum: The San Bernardino site is unofficial and free, offering a raw look at the history the corporation sometimes glosses over.
- Eat in Downey: The 10207 Lakewood Blvd location is the oldest operating McDonald's and the only place to get specific "legacy" menu items.
- Check the Clock: If you’re looking for the museum, double-check hours locally; being privately owned, they can be a bit quirky compared to corporate sites.