Which California city is home to the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant? Downey is home to the oldest operating McDonald's restaurant.
The restaurant opened on August 18, 1953, at Lakewood Boulevard and Florence Avenue. It is McDonald's outlet number 3 and was the second restaurant franchised by founders Richard and Maurice McDonald before Ray Kroc's corporate expansion transformed the chain.
Roger Williams and Bud Landon opened the Downey stand using architect Stanley Clark Meston's distinctive early design, including the original Golden Arches. Because it was originally franchised directly by the McDonald brothers, it avoided some later modernization requirements and retained much of its historic appearance.
A common mix-up is San Bernardino, where the McDonald brothers opened their first restaurant. That original site is no longer the operating historic restaurant; a replica and museum now commemorate it. Downey's restaurant survived closure plans, earthquake damage, and a major restoration before reopening in 1996.