“When you think of McDonald's, some distinct features are likely to come to mind - the golden arches, Big Macs and the mascot Ronald McDonald.
But this particular California restaurant is proof that the beloved chain has come a long way since it originated in the 1950s.
This fast food joint, located on Lakewood Boulevard in Downey, Southeast Los Angeles County, is the oldest surviving McDonald's in the world.
It first opened in 1953 - the third restaurant to be franchised by the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald who founded the chain in 1948 - and it still has its original vintage decor, as well as its own museum. But the biggest pull for McDonald's fans is that it is the only restaurant on the continental United States where you can order a deep-fried apple pie. …”
Originally posted by braillediver: The deep fried apple pie was good. Hot with the bubbly crust. I remember a Big Mac being good back then.
Perhaps the changes have been to your palate, not so much the recipe?
Back on topic...The McD's I used to hang out at in high school (60's) is still in operation at the same location. It had to be one of the first franchises in the DC area, I believe it opened about 1956 or so. It does not appear to have been renovated since that time, and is still missing many amenities that are now commonplace such as a self-serve drink machine, and a drive through window. I believe you can now order there "in the app," but you have to get out of your car and go to the counter to pick up your order. I remember when the "1 million sold" sign went up, it was kind of a big deal at the time, made the newspaper. The other old timers here probably remember that there was no breakfast menu back then, and that the Egg McMuffin and deep fried apple pie were not even imagined. Burgers were 17¢, cheeseburgers 19¢, and they made many items to order, not in advance.
Posts: 7237 | Location: NoVA | Registered: July 22, 2009
I worked at Jack In The Box in 1970 and actually preferred their deep fried apple turnovers. There was a McDonalds next to a gas station I worked at in Anaheim in 1971. I remember my lunch would be two hamburgers, fries (they only offered one size) and a small coke. It was .96 cents. And I was only earning $1.35 an hour.
Posts: 851 | Location: Orange County, CA | Registered: December 21, 2005
I have always enjoyed the Egg McMuffin and their shakes from years ago, but really don't care for much else.
On a side note, if the movie,"The Founder", was anything like reality, it is a shame the original brothers got screwed like they did. I also understand that if Croc didn't do what he did, the McDonalds brothers stated they would be in big debt because of taxes.
Originally posted by Veeper: Does that location still fry in lard or whatever they used before their fries turned to shit?
When processed they used to coat the fries in salt and beef tallow before they were flash frozen. The health kick mindset got that canceled years ago. Ruined them.
There is some confusion regarding the location that the first Egg McMuffin was served. Wikipedia states that the first "corporate-authorized" Egg McMuffin appeared in Bellville, NJ in 1972.
Another article says it was a McDonald's on Upper State Street in Santa Barbara in '72. I swear that another Santa Barbara McD's, (on Milpas St. IIRC) had a plaque that claimed that they were the first.
I have been to the Downey location decades ago, early 80s.
quote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker: But the biggest pull for McDonald's fans is that it is the only restaurant on the continental United States where you can order a deep-fried apple pie.
One of our favorite places to eat while vacationing in Maui and Oahu was McDonalds. For breakfast, the eggs, spam, and rice plates were good and cheap, my wife and son loved it, and less than 4 bucks. But my go to was the banana pie, deep fried and filled with sweet banana slices. It was not available outside Hawaii.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
Posts: 18141 | Location: Texas | Registered: May 13, 2003
Wikipedia states that the first "corporate-authorized" Egg McMuffin appeared in Bellville, NJ in 1972.
I grew up in Belleville NJ. 12 years old in 1972. That location was on Washington Avenue right near the bowling alley. We went to both places occasionally.
Posts: 4223 | Location: Texas | Registered: April 16, 2012
Ahhh…memories. Pretty neat article. Started my first job at McDonald’s in January 1977 the day after I turned 16. Our uniform looked like the brown one depicted in the article. Minimum wage - $2.30 per hour.
"If you’re a leader, you lead the way. Not just on the easy ones; you take the tough ones too…” – MAJ Richard D. Winters (1918-2011), E Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil... Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 5:20,24
I often ask people if they recall when McDonalds menu was simple and basic. Sure not like that any more. My local McDonalds did a fine job this morning. I wasn't intending to eat breakfast, just stop for coffee. On my way out, one of the lady managers I know stopped me. A customer who calls in his order every day couldn't make it in. I was given his order. Biscuits and gravey X 2 with two round eggs. I ate it all and felt like a stuffed turkey. That was a lot for me.
Posts: 18143 | Location: The Bluegrass State! | Registered: December 23, 2008
Ray Kroc opened the first McDonalds Inc restaurant in 1955 in Des Plaines, IL. I've been eating the regular hamburgers (ketchup only) and the fries, and nothing else, without issue, ever since.
