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The Original McDonald's in San Bernardino, California
1948: McDonald brothers open circular drive-in restaurant at this location in San Bernardino, CA.
1952: Architect Stanley Meston designs iconic golden arched prototype building for McDonald's #2 in Phoenix, AZ. This design is replicated nationwide until a new prototype is introduced in 1968.
1953: McDonald's #3 opens in Downey, CA.
1954: McDonald brothers franchise additional stores in Pomona, Azusa and Alhambra. They franchise about a dozen stores before meeting Ray Kroc at the San Bernardino location.
1955: Ray Kroc buys a franchise, builds his first store in Des Plaines, IL.
1957: Original San Bernardino drive-in demolished and replaced with standardized prototype golden arched store.
1961: Ray Kroc buys out McDonald brothers for $2.7 million.
1976: Golden arched store in San Bernardino demolished. Current building constructed.
1984: Downey store added to National Register of Historic Places.
1984: Des Plaines store demolished and a replica built to house a McDonald's museum.
1996: Downey store restored and reopened as "World's Oldest McDonald's."
1998: Albert Okura buys the building as the HQ for Juan Pollo. Turns half the building into his personal museum of McDonald's memorabilia.
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Hillary: The McDonald's Corporation (founded 1955 by Ray Kroc) has always considered the location at 400 Lee St. in Des Plaines, IL to be the first store. However, there were about a dozen stores opened between 1948 and 1955 as shown above. They just predate Ray Kroc.
Nick Solares: You are probably thinking of the 1956 store at 1900 S. Central Ave. @ Washington. It's now called Tacos El Gavilan.