What Illinois suburb housed McDonald's former headquarters complex?

McDonald’s former headquarters complex was in Oak Brook, Illinois.

The company moved its headquarters from an office in Chicago’s Loop to the Oak Brook facility in 1971. Known as McDonald’s Plaza, the complex became closely associated with the corporation during decades of rapid expansion in the United States and internationally.

The Oak Brook property stood on land connected with Paul Butler, the founder of Oak Brook, including a former headquarters and stabling area. It also housed Hamburger University, McDonald’s corporate training center, which opened in 1961 and trained restaurant managers, owner-operators, and other leaders.

McDonald’s announced plans in 2016 to return its global headquarters to Chicago. The new West Loop headquarters opened in 2018, ending Oak Brook’s role as the company’s world headquarters. Oak Brook therefore remains the correct answer for the former complex, not the company’s current Chicago location.