04/15/2022
National McDonald's Day! While the very first McDonald's BBQ was born in San Bernadino, CA by Dick and Mac McDonald, the company recognizes this day in 1955 as their anniversary. The short story goes like this;
1940 - McDonaldβs Is Founded
Dick and Mac McDonald open McDonald's Bar-B-Q restaurant on Fourteenth and E streets in San Bernardino, California. It is a typical drive-in featuring a large menu and car hop service.
1948- The McDonald brothers shut down their restaurant for three months for alterations. In December it reopens as a self-service drive-in restaurant. The menu is reduced to nine items: hamburger, cheeseburger, soft drinks, milk, coffee, potato chips and a slice of pie. The staple of the menu is the 15 cent hamburger. Picture #1
1949- French Fries replace potato chips and debut Triple Thick Milkshakes on the McDonald's menu.
1954 -Multimixer salesman Ray Kroc visits McDonald's in San Bernardino intending to sell the brothers more Multimixers. The 52 year old Kroc is fascinated by the operation. He learns from the brothers that they are looking for a nationwide franchising agent.
1955 - The First McDonaldβs Opens
Kroc opens his first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15. The attention getting red and white tiled building with the Golden Arches was designed by architect Stanley Meston in 1953. First day sales are $366.12. Picture #2
Want to know more?
Visit Corporate.McDonalds.com! π