Which McDonald’s restaurant opened in 1955 as Ray Kroc’s first franchised location?

The McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, opened in 1955 as Ray Kroc’s first franchised location.

Ray Kroc opened the restaurant on April 15, 1955, after becoming involved with the McDonald brothers’ restaurant system. The site became an important symbol of the transition from a successful California hamburger restaurant to a rapidly expanding national chain.

The Des Plaines location was designed to make the McDonald’s identity highly visible. Its architecture featured the Golden Arches, which helped turn the restaurant’s building into a recognizable part of the brand. The original building was later demolished, but a reconstruction and museum preserve the site’s historical significance.

San Bernardino is sometimes chosen because it was the location of the McDonald brothers’ original restaurant. It was not Kroc’s first franchised McDonald’s. Oak Brook later became associated with McDonald’s corporate headquarters, making it another common mix-up.