The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The McDonald brothers opened the first McDonald’s restaurant on May 15, 1940, at Fourteenth and E streets in San Bernardino, California. It was a carhop drive-in called McDonald’s Bar-B-Q—not yet the streamlined, self-service operation often associated with the brand. That system followed an important redesign in 1948.
What the first McDonald’s was like in 1940
Brothers Richard (“Dick”) and Maurice (“Mac”) McDonald opened McDonald’s Bar-B-Q as a typical drive-in. It had a large menu, and carhops served customers at their cars. The company’s history identifies the location as Fourteenth and E streets in San Bernardino. McDonald’s corporate history and The Henry Ford’s account distinguish this original format from what came later.
The Library of Congress reported in a 2010 post that the restaurant would often draw 125 cars on weekends and regularly top $200,000 in annual sales. Those are historical figures reported by the Library of Congress, not independently audited counts; the sales figure is not adjusted for inflation. The Library of Congress post supplies the figures.
How the restaurant changed in 1948
After closing for three months, the brothers reopened in December 1948 with a reduced menu and self-service. The Henry Ford describes the new setup as walk-up service with assembly-line food production. McDonald’s lists a 15-cent hamburger as a staple of that redesigned menu. This 1948 shift—not the 1940 opening—is the point at which the restaurant began to resemble the quick-service model for which McDonald’s became known. The company timeline also records that French fries replaced potato chips and Triple Thick Milkshakes appeared in 1949.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
How the 1940 restaurant differs from Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s
The San Bernardino restaurant and Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s mark different milestones. Dick and Mac opened the original in 1940; Kroc’s first restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955, after he visited the brothers in 1954 and became their franchise agent.
| Milestone | Who opened it | Place and date | Historical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original McDonald’s | Dick and Mac McDonald | San Bernardino, California; May 15, 1940 | The brothers’ original carhop drive-in, later redesigned for self-service in 1948. |
| Kroc’s first McDonald’s | Ray Kroc | Des Plaines, Illinois; 1955 | The first restaurant in Kroc’s expansion story. |
McDonald’s says it acquired the rights to the brothers’ company in 1961 for $2.7 million. That later transaction does not change who opened the first restaurant or when. The dates and purchase price are from McDonald’s corporate history.
Rank #2
- Ideal for Gifting
- Ideal for a bookworm
- Compact for travelling
Why the distinction matters
Calling Kroc’s 1955 Des Plaines location the first McDonald’s erases the brothers’ five-year head start and the original San Bernardino restaurant. Conversely, describing the 1940 restaurant as already using the Speedee Service System moves the later 1948 redesign backward in time. Donna R. Braden, Curator of Public Life at The Henry Ford, wrote: “The first real McDonald’s was created by Richard (“Dick”) and Maurice (“Mac”) McDonald in San Bernardino, California, on May 15, 1940.” The Henry Ford provides the historical context.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- It can be a gift option
- Comes with secure packaging
- Helpful in various ways
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute
