What city hosted the McDonald's restaurant that became the oldest surviving location?

Downey, California, hosts the McDonald's restaurant that became the oldest surviving location.

The Downey restaurant opened in 1953 and retains the distinctive early double-arch design associated with McDonald's formative franchise period. It is commonly identified as the oldest surviving McDonald's restaurant, although the original restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino is no longer standing as the same active location.

The Downey site is important to branding history because it preserves the architectural identity that preceded the simplified modern logo. Visitors often confuse it with the first McDonald's restaurant or with Ray Kroc's first franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. Those locations have different historical roles: San Bernardino was the brothers' original business, Des Plaines was Kroc's first franchise restaurant, and Downey is the oldest surviving McDonald's location.