What phrase appeared on the sign of the McDonald brothers’ first restaurant when it opened in 1940?

The McDonald brothers’ first restaurant opened in 1940 under the name “McDonald's Bar-B-Q.”

Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California, serving barbecue foods and other items. Its early identity was therefore centered on barbecue rather than the limited hamburger menu later associated with the company.

In 1948, the brothers reorganized the business around a smaller menu and faster preparation system. They removed barbecue items and focused on hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries, and beverages. This change helped create the recognizable McDonald’s operating model.

The original 1940 restaurant should not be confused with the later McDonald’s corporation or with the 1955 restaurant opened by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois. The San Bernardino site was the brothers’ starting point, while the later Des Plaines location became an important early company landmark.