Originally Posted By Dave >>>the first McDonalds 1953( Speedee ) the restaurants as you know them was built in Downey California<<< Well this is incorrect and the folks at the McDonalds in Downey will confirm this. I live about 4 miles from it and have asked a few times with no believers. They will tell you that Des Plaines IL is where it started. However they will confirm that the Downey McDonalds is the oldest standing restaurant in the country. <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/about/mcd_history_pg1.html" target="_blank">http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/...pg1.html</a> Also the first Taco Bell opened about 3 miles away also in Downey on March 21, 1962.
Originally Posted By schnebs Interesting story related to that. When the McDonald brothers finally sold their interest in McDonald's, they got to keep the original McDonalds in San Berdoo as part of the deal. They changed the name to Mac's Place, and it was put out of business by a McD's that the company opened just up the street.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Interesting fact - Ray Kroc came across the McDonald brothers and their hamburger stand because he wanted to sell them a milk shake machine... Yes I know this because at 18 I was a shift manager at McDonalds....
Originally Posted By vbdad55 even more bizarre - you know Ray Kroc and Walt Disney were in the same Red Cross ambulance unit. I have a picture of the unit from the McDonalds archives.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains There you go that's Mc'd's connection to Disneyland.... LOL!!!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 McDonalds - Coca Cola & Disney are tied very very tightly at the executive level and have been for a long time - trust me. Sons and daughters of top level execs work forthe other companies in this triumvirate
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains McD's leaving is fine -- I hope Coke never does - We don't often have soda's in the park but when we do we just want a Coke... Oh and we found Coke Zero in the soda fountain in the Mexican restaurant in DL!
Originally Posted By schnebs The sad thing is, I actually know McD's history, and I never worked for them! The McDonald brothers started their business in San Bernardino in 1948 (I might be off by a couple of years on the date). They did a little franchising on their own (which is how the Downey location got built in 1953), but what we think of today as the McDonald's Corporation didn't really get started until Ray Kroc found out about them and made a deal with them to franchise the concept. The first restaurant that was created under Kroc was opened is Des Plaines IL in (I think) 1955. The Des Plaines location is still there, but it's a museum. The Downey location's still there, as well; it's the oldest operating McD's and could be considered the oldest McD's since it pre-dates Des Plaines and used the same system that the McDonald brothers came up with, but since it wasn't set up by today's McDonalds Corporation, you could argue that it's not a "true" McDonald's. Confused? Good, me too.
Originally Posted By Elderp "Confused? Good, me too. " You want confusing? The very first McD's which is in San Bernardino is now a museum too. Is it owned by McD's? No, its owned by El Pollo Loco!! It is a very fun place to visit, very retro. If you ever get the chance and are in San Bernardino go visit it at 1398 N. E St., San Bernardino, CA 92405.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains Pepsi - well that would ensure that we never bought soda again... It's just too sweet...
Originally Posted By Elderp I'm not a fan of Pepsi but I do like Mug rootbeer which is a Pepsi product.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Pepsi is way too sweet for me - it's like someone put sugar in the finsihed product... Has Pepsi offered at DL since the late 60's? As I stated with the strong corporate ties, I'd be very surprised to see that again unless there are some major fallings out
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Nancy Luna over at the Orange County Register has gotten both Disney and McDonald's to respond to the news... <a href="http://fastfood.freedomblogging.com/2008/08/06/disneyland-to-mcdonalds-get-out/" target="_blank">http://fastfood.freedombloggin...get-out/</a> >>Officials at both Disneyland and McDonald’s have confirmed with the Orange County Register a recent story posted on MiceAge, a Disneyland chat forum: McDonald’s is history after Labor Day. “As part of a planned refurbishment, three McDonald’s-branded quick service restaurants in Disneyland Resort — Burger Invasion, Conestoga Fries and Harbour Galley — will close on September 2,” Betsy Sanchez, a theme park spokeswoman, said in an email statement.<< >>McDonald’s seemed a bit disappointed by the news when I asked the chain to confirm its soon-to-be departure from the Anaheim theme parks. Yes, McDonald’s is leaving because of the remodel, said spokeswoman Danya Proud. But: “It is also important to note that we continue to have a relationship with Disney — that includes providing foodservice at Walt Disney World.”<<
