Where did the McDonald brothers open the first McDonald's restaurant in 1940?

The McDonald brothers opened the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940.

Maurice and Richard McDonald opened their drive-in restaurant on North E Street in May 1940. It initially served a broad menu, including barbecue, hamburgers, and other drive-in food. In 1948, the brothers reorganized the business around a much smaller menu and faster preparation system, a change that became known as the Speedee Service System.

Ray Kroc later became the company's key franchising figure. He opened the first McDonald's franchise operated by his organization in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955, which is why that location is sometimes confused with the original restaurant. The San Bernardino site was demolished in 1972, although a museum-style replica and memorabilia collection later occupied part of the location.

The company's modern headquarters and global network developed long after the brothers' California beginning.