What was McDonald’s first franchised restaurant location under Ray Kroc?

McDonald’s first franchised restaurant under Ray Kroc was in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Kroc opened the restaurant in 1955 after becoming interested in the efficient hamburger operation created by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The Des Plaines restaurant became the first location of the McDonald’s System operated by Kroc and helped establish the standardized restaurant model that powered the company’s expansion.

The original McDonald brothers’ restaurant in San Bernardino is often mistaken for Kroc’s first franchise. It was the source of the operating system, but Des Plaines was Kroc’s first McDonald’s restaurant. The Des Plaines building was later preserved as a museum site, commemorating the company’s franchising history.

Kroc’s growth strategy emphasized consistent menus, service, architecture, and visual branding across locations.