The original McDonald's restaurant opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened it on May 15 at 1398 North E Street, launching the business that would later become a global fast-food chain.
The brothers' first food venture was actually a small drive-in called The Airdrome, opened near Monrovia in 1937. After moving to San Bernardino, they operated a barbecue-focused restaurant. They discovered that hamburgers generated most of their profits, leading them to simplify the menu and service model.
A common mix-up is 1948, the year the brothers introduced their Speedee Service System after temporarily closing and redesigning the restaurant. That system emphasized a limited menu, assembly-line preparation, paper packaging, and quick service. Another frequently confused date is 1955, when Ray Kroc opened a McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois, and began expanding the corporation associated with the brand today.