San Bernardino, California - Original McDonald's Site, Museum

This is the original site of McDonald's (owned by the McDonald brothers), which opened as the Airdrome in 1940 and converted to the first McDonald's in 1948. It was here that Ray Kroc tried to sell Dick and Mac McDonald a MixMaster in 1954 and ended up buying their name.

It is now the headquarters for the Juan Pollo fast food chain. [Bill Long, 11/05/2007]

[RA: April 2008: Albert Okura, founder of the Juan Pollo restaurant chain, bought this property in a foreclosure sale. He knew its history and turned part of it into a McDonald's Museum. A curatorial staff is available to give tours to school groups.]

Juan Pollo, a Mexican food chain out here that knows the value of preserving historical fast food landmarks, has recently opened a museum at their HQ, on the site of the first McDonald's restaurant. Many Fast Food Historians have been in a tizzy over the "Vichy First McDonald's" in Des Plaines, IL...which is actually Ray Kroc's first franchised Mickey D's(the McDonald Brothers had 15-20 So Cal franchisees by the time the milkshake guy came around), but the McDonald's Corp HAS done an about-face and acknowledged the San Berdoo birthplace, which the Brothers kept when they sold the chain to Kroc. The actual structure was moved across the street, and is now in storage. The building now is the former Community Theatre. Here's the rub: the museum has the support of the Corp. but they need folks with early McDonald's mementos who would be willing to donate to the museum -- they can work out the details later. Contact them at 1256 w. 5th san bernadino ca 909 885-5598 and check out their collection, it is pretty nifty. [Dictel, 02/14/1999]