What was the name of McDonald's first restaurant opened by Ray Kroc's franchise company in 1955?

Ray Kroc's franchise company opened its first restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955, commonly identified as McDonald's in Des Plaines.

The restaurant opened on April 15, 1955, under McDonald's System, Inc. It was the first location established by Kroc's organization after he became involved with the McDonald brothers' operation and pursued large-scale franchising.

This site is often called the first McDonald's franchise, but the wording can create confusion. The McDonald brothers had already opened restaurants, and the first McDonald's restaurant itself dated from their earlier operation in San Bernardino. Des Plaines marks Kroc's corporate expansion rather than the beginning of the brothers' restaurant business.

The building later became a museum and an important symbol of McDonald's franchising history. Its original branding reflected the early arches identity before later updates standardized the company worldwide.