Which Illinois city was home to Ray Kroc's first McDonald's restaurant?

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

Kroc opened the restaurant on April 15, 1955, through his franchising company, McDonald’s Systems, Inc. The site marked the beginning of Kroc’s direct involvement with the McDonald brothers’ business and became an important symbol of the corporation’s later expansion.

The Des Plaines location is often called McDonald’s first store, but that description needs context. Richard and Maurice McDonald had opened the original McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. The Des Plaines restaurant was actually the ninth McDonald’s location overall and the first opened by Kroc.

A replica operated as the McDonald’s #1 Store Museum from 1985 until 2018. It was demolished after repeated flooding, while historical artifacts were moved to other McDonald’s facilities. A newer McDonald’s across the street continues to display memorabilia connected with the site.