On April 15, 1955, a single restaurant opening in Des Plaines, Illinois, set in motion a revolution that would forever alter the landscape of fast food. Ray Kroc was the driving force behind that moment, taking a concept originally crafted by Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California, and building it into the most dominant fast-food empire on the planet.
It all started back in 1948, when the McDonald brothers unveiled their 'Speedee Service System' — a groundbreaking approach that essentially invented the fast-food model. By streamlining a limited menu through production lines and using disposable packaging, they changed the game entirely. Ray Kroc stumbled upon their operation while selling milkshake machines and was blown away by what he saw. He immediately grasped the enormous nationwide potential of their system and partnered with the brothers to form a franchising company, which would ultimately evolve into the McDonald's Corporation.
That first Des Plaines location introduced a handful of innovations that would become defining hallmarks of the entire fast-food experience:
- The iconic golden arches design
- Standardized menus and preparation methods
- Strict quality control across locations
Kroc built a business model rooted in industrial-grade efficiency and cleanliness, and in doing so, he didn't just shake up the fast-food world — he redefined dining expectations on a global scale. Within five years of McDonald's founding date, the chain had grown to over 200 locations. That expansion has since ballooned to more than 40,000 restaurants worldwide, serving 69 million customers daily.
Those early days saw 15-cent hamburgers flying off the grill at McDonald's first franchise, with the Speedee character serving as the brand's face before Ronald McDonald eventually stepped into the spotlight as the main mascot. After the original Des Plaines structure was demolished in 1984, a reconstruction was built on the site to serve as a historical museum, preserving key chapters in the evolution of both dining culture and business innovation.
What began as a humble vendor operation blossomed into a multi-billion-dollar corporation, fueled by relentless development and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction. The standards established during those earliest franchising days continue to echo through every McDonald's restaurant around the globe, embedded in the signature branding elements that define the company's worldwide presence.