McDonald's — Restaurant in Downey

The oldest McDonald's restaurant is a drive-up hamburger stand at 10207 Lakewood Boulevard at Florence Avenue in Downey, California. It was the third McDonald's restaurant and opened on August 18, 1953. It was also the second restaurant franchised by Richard and Maurice McDonald, prior to the involvement of Ray Kroc in the company. The restaurant is now the oldest in the chain still in existence and is one of Downey's main tourist attractions. Along with its sign, it was deemed eligible for addition to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, although it was not added because the owner objected.

The McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant adjacent to the Monrovia Airport in 1937. It was a tiny octagonal building informally called The Airdrome. That octagonal building was later moved to 1398 North E Street in San Bernardino, California in 1940. It was originally a barbecue drive-in, but the brothers discovered that most of their profits came from hamburgers. In 1948, they closed their restaurant for three months, reopening it in December as a walk-up hamburger stand that sold hamburgers, potato chips, and orange juice; the following year, french fries and Coca-Cola were added to the menu. This simplified menu, and food preparation using assembly line principles, allowed them to sell hamburgers for 15 cents, or about half as much as at a sit-down restaurant. The restaurant was very successful, and the brothers started to franchise the concept in 1953.

The first franchisee was Occidental Petroleum executive Neil Fox, who opened a restaurant at 4050 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona in May, for a flat fee of $1,000 (equivalent to $10,100 in 2021). His restaurant was the first to employ the McDonald brothers' Golden Arches standardized design, created by Southern California architect Stanley Clark Meston and his assistant Charles Fish. Fox's use of the "McDonald's" name evidently came as a surprise to the brothers. (Two of their franchises, in North Hollywood and Azusa, would use the name "Peak's," but all others would be "McDonald's".)

Fox's brother-in-law Roger Williams and his business partner Burdette "Bud" Landon, were the franchisees. They used their expertise in siting Occidental gasoline stations in choosing the location. Like the McDonald brothers' other franchisees, they were required to use Meston's design.[2]

The purchase of the chain from the McDonald brothers by Ray Kroc did not affect the Downey restaurant, as it was franchised under an agreement with the McDonald brothers, not with Kroc's company McDonald's Systems, Inc., which later became McDonald's Corporation. As a result, the restaurant was not subject to the modernization requirements that McDonald's Corporation placed on its franchisees. Its menu came to differ from that of other McDonald's restaurants, and lacked items such as the Big Mac that were developed in the corporation. In part due to these differences, as well as a corporate McDonald's opening in the mid-1970s less than half a mile away, the restaurant came to suffer poor sales, and was finally acquired by McDonald's Corporation in 1990, when it was the only remaining McDonald's that was independent of the chain.

With low sales, damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and the lack of a drive-up window and indoor seating, the restaurant was closed, and McDonald's planned to demolish it and incorporate some of its features in a modern "retro" restaurant nearby. However, it was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 1994 list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. With both the public and preservationists demanding the restaurant be saved, McDonald's spent two years restoring the restaurant and reopened it. Customers today can visit the restored restaurant and an adjoining gift...

We visited the oldest McDonald's Restaurant in  the world in Lakewood,California and its like going back in time! When it originally opened in 1953,  a hamburger cost 15 cents and an order of  French Fries was only 12 cents. The towering  neon Chef "Speedee" was McDonald's first  mascot and he symbolized fast, efficient service I'M  'SPEEDEE" Roger Williams and Burdette "Bud" Landon opened the  restaurant on August 18, 1953. This location in Downey was the  third restaurant franchised by Richard and Maurice McDonald.  who founded the chain in 1948. Ray Kroc, the eventual founder of the McDonald's Corporation,  was a traveling salesman who sold a product called a  "Multimixer". These Multimixers were useerto make several  milkshakes at a time and it was on one of his sales calls that he  . was introduced to McDonald's. Ray Kroc visited this historic ◦  location in 1954 to aid him in preparing for the construction of his  first McDonald's Restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. The location  Ray opened in 1955 would be the first restaurant opened outside  of California. Ray Kroc eventually bought out the McDonald  brothers for $2.7 million. However, this location was never  formally a part of the company that Ray Kroc would found.,  McDonald's Corporation as we know it today. This restaurant did  not become a part of the McDonald's Corporation until 1990.  "Speedee", the original mascot and logo was replaced with the  current "Golden Arches" in 1961. Ronald McDonald was created  in 1963, with Willard Scott playing the role as the very first  mascot. In 1994, the "Speedee" store was closed due to damage it  sustained in the Northridge Earthquake. The restaurant  reopened on December 15, 1996, when a museum and a gift  shop was added to the site. Lakewood 'resident and McDonald's  Owner/Operator Ron Piazza assumed ownership of  ◦  the Speedee" restaurant on July 1, 1998 . We all had big mac sandwiches and we had heard that the meat served is a better quality than other McDonalds and I have to say it certainly did seem tastier! . . . . #mcdonalds #bigmac #oldestmcdonalds #mcdonaldbrothers #seetheusa #coolplaces #family #lakewoodcalifornia #godisgood #mcdonaldsrestaurant #raycroc...

If you ever find yourself in Downey, California, there's a magical place that beckons you to explore the history of American entrepreneurship. Welcome to the oldest operational McDonald's, where every corner exudes the captivating story of a fast-food empire's humble beginnings.

A Symbol of Yesteryears: Speedy's Iconic Signage

As you approach this time capsule of a restaurant, you'll be greeted by a relic of the past - the original McDonald's mascot, "Speedy." This little chef has witnessed the transformation of fast food into a global phenomenon.

A Journey Through Time: The Fascinating Museum

Step inside, and you'll find yourself immersed in a treasure trove of captivating artifacts. Among them is the multimixer, a milkshake machine that Ray Kroc sold before his McDonald's days. It's a stark reminder of the entrepreneurial spirit that would soon change the world's dining landscape.

A Cultural Gem Recognized by California

This remarkable McDonald's establishment isn't just any fast-food joint; it's a certified cultural landmark recognized by the state of California. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of two brothers who had a vision.

A Glimpse into McDonald's Original Roots

This restaurant, a testament to the determination and innovation of the founding brothers, is a piece of living history. It's where the McDonald brothers embarked on a journey that would eventually alter the global culinary landscape. Visiting this spot is like taking a step back in time, to the birthplace of one of the most iconic brands in the world.

In essence, Downey's oldest operational McDonald's is a captivating portal to the past. It's a place where you can taste the history, feel the nostalgia, and gain a deeper appreciation for the American dream that gave rise to a global phenomenon. If you're ever in the area, this living time capsule is a must-visit for anyone intrigued by the history of fast food and the enduring legacy of two brothers...