McDonald's opened its first restaurant under Ray Kroc's ownership in 1955.
Kroc opened the restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, after becoming involved with the McDonald brothers' highly standardized restaurant system. The site is associated with the beginning of the McDonald's Corporation era and the rapid franchise growth that followed.
The McDonald brothers had already opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. They later introduced the Speedee Service System, which simplified preparation and helped establish the model that attracted Kroc's interest. Thus, 1955 is not the founding date of the original brothers' restaurant.
The distinction matters in branding history because the 1955 Des Plaines restaurant represented the start of Kroc's large-scale expansion. Its early identity helped carry the McDonald's name, service model, and visual style into a national chain.