Europe has its ancient ruins, and America has old McDonald’s restaurants. If it feels like that McDonald’s in your hometown has just always been there, it probably has. McDonald’s has been an American mainstay for decades, and we’re exploring some of the oldest McDonald’s in the United States.
7 of the Oldest McDonald’s in the United States
While people usually either love or hate McDonald’s, it gave other restaurants the blueprint for what we could come to know and love as fast food. Take a trip through McDonald’s history and virtually visit some of the oldest McDonald’s locations (both standing and demolished) in the United States.
| Oldest McDonald's Restaurants | Opening Year |
|---|---|
| The Airdrome | 1937 |
| McDonald's Bar-B-Que | 1940 |
| McDonald's in San Bernadino, California | 1948 |
| McDonald's in Downey, California | 1953 |
| McDonald's in Phoenix, Arizona | 1953 |
| McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois | 1955 |
| McDonald's in Urbana, Illinois | 1956 |
The Airdrome
Patrick McDonald — McDonald’s founders Richard and Maurice McDonald’s father — started the family’s first restaurant venture with a relatively small operation in Monrovia, California, in 1937. Called the Airdrome, this shop served hot dogs, hamburgers, and the like before closing in 1940.
Status: Closed
McDonald’s Bar-B-Que
Richard and Maurice McDonald were the brains behind the beloved American touchstone, McDonald’s. They transformed their father’s restaurant concept into a bar-b-que joint called McDonald’s Bar-B-Que in San Bernadino, California, in 1940. Turns out the McRib was more at home on the original McDonald’s menu than most of their iconic items.
This original McDonald's location was rather successful, but the two brothers saw the value of streamlining their business. They closed this spot, only to reopen it with a much smaller menu in 1948.
Status: Remodeled
Related: 9 Most Valuable Vintage McDonald's Glasses Worth Toasting To
McDonald’s in San Bernadino, California
The reponed McDonald’s sans the Bar-B-Que was the first of many McDonald’s to come. It captured the attention of traveling motorists on the legendary Route 66 and proved to be quite a success. Today, you can visit the unofficial McDonald’s Museum located in the original building.
Status: Open — now a museum
McDonald’s in Downey, California
Believe it or not, the McDonald brothers were actually the first ones to franchise their successful restaurant. In 1953, the first McDonald’s franchise opened its doors in Downey, California. This historic location boasts a totally unrecognizable design and mascot.
Instead of Ronald McDonald, Speedee tops the single-arch sign. It’s a vestige of vintage style you can still visit. Head to 10207 Lakewood Blvd, and this old McDonald’s will greet you.
Status: Open
The first McDonald’s to debut a version of the iconic PlayPlace opened in Chula Vista, California in 1971.
McDonald’s in Phoenix, Arizona
Ray Kroc wasn’t the first man to franchise McDonald’s restaurants. The McDonald brothers opened their own franchise in 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s the first location to boast the now-iconic golden arches. According to a longtime worker and later franchise owner, Art Bender, the man bought the franchise for $900.
Per Bender’s recollection, several franchises followed before Kroc entered the scene and shook things up.
Status: Closed — replaced with a different restaurant
The first McDonald’s to feature a drive thru opened in Sierra Vista, Arizona in January, 1975.
Related: 8 Rare & Valuable McDonald's Toys Worth a Ton of Money
McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois
Ray Kroc — the man you can thank for making McDonald’s a national phenomenon — debuted his first McDonald’s franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois (the ninth McDonald’s ever) in 1955. The McDonald brothers had been using his milkshake machines in their restaurant for years, and his curiosity led him to the burgeoning business.
Unfortunately, the location was torn down in 1984, but a McDonald’s Museum was later built on the lot. However, demolition struck again, and the former replica McDonald’s #1 Store Museum was destroyed in the late 2010s.
Status: Closed
McDonald’s in Urbana, Illinois
Ray Kroc oversaw franchising outside of California, and in June of 1956, a group opened a McDonald’s franchise in Champaign-Urbana. Thanks to its success, the Kewanee group looked to add more franchises in the surrounding areas per their territory agreement with Ray Kroc.
Kroc reneged on the agreement, denying them the right to franchise any more McDonald’s in the area due to a supposed policy change. The group retaliated by opening their own similar restaurant called Sandy’s in 1958 on a Peoria lot where they originally planned to build a new McDonald’s franchise.
Fascinatingly, McDonald’s filed a lawsuit against the group stating that they had violated a non-compete clause and stolen trade secrets. The judge ruled in Sandy’s favor at the local level, but the case was appealed and reached the Illinois Supreme Court, where the judges ruled once again in Sandy’s favor.
Eventually, McDonald’s and Sandy’s settled out of court, but the case’s legacy lives on.
Status: Unknown
We're McLovin' These Old McDonald's
Say what you will about the always-broken ice cream machines or the tragic death of the fried apple pie, but McDonald’s is the most iconic American mid-century mainstay. Though urban sprawl and city planning have overtaken most of the original McDonald’s restaurants, you can still relieve the magic by taking a bite out of those golden arches.
