Mcdonald's - Downey

I visited this McDonald's recently and, like all others, the staff was friendly. The prices were a bit high compared to what I remember, but the place was clean and I appreciated the old nostalgic charm. If you enjoy McDonald's, this is a cool spot to grab a meal and reminisce about the good old days. Overall, it was a good experience.

This McDonald's restaurant in Downey was opened in 1953 and is recognized as the world's oldest surviving McDonald's. It has become a tourist attraction, complete with a small museum and gift shop. The restaurant had a unique history, as it was originally founded by the McDonald brothers, not Ray Kroc. This meant that it had a different menu and did not offer the famous Big Mac. In 1990, it was taken over by Kroc's McDonald's Corporation, but was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Despite initial plans to demolish it, the restaurant was saved and restored, eventually reopening successfully. One of the popular items on the menu is the deep-fried cupcake, which has a unique apple-flavored churro taste. It's definitely worth trying when visiting this historic McDonald's location.

This is a really awesome McDonald's! It is the oldest one still in operation and has a fascinating museum on the right side of the seating area. The museum offers a wealth of history about the origins of McDonald's. I really enjoyed the location and would recommend checking it out if you're in the area.

McDonald's Corporation is an American multinational fast food chain and real estate company, founded in 1940 as a restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald, in San Bernardino, California, United States. They rechristened their business as a hamburger stand, and later turned the company into a franchise, with the Golden Arches logo being introduced in 1953 at a location in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1955, Ray Kroc (1902–1984), a businessman, joined the company as a franchise agent and proceeded to purchase the chain from the McDonald brothers. McDonald's had its previous headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois, but moved its global headquarters to Chicago in June 2018.McDonald's is the world's largest restaurant chain by revenue,[12] serving over 69 million customers daily in over 100 countries[13] in more than 40,000 outlets as of 2021.[14][15] McDonald's is best known for its hamburgers, cheeseburgers and french fries, although their menus include other items like chicken, fish, fruit, and salads. Their most well-known licensed item on the menu would be their French fries with the Big Mac close behind.[16] The company has been the recipient of criticism for the unhealthiness of their food.[17] The McDonald's Corporation revenues come from the rent, royalties, and fees paid by the franchisees, as well as sales in company-operated restaurants. According to two reports published in 2018, McDonald's is the world's second-largest private employer with 1.7 million employees (behind Walmart with 2.3 million employees).[18][19] As of 2020, McDonald's has the ninth-highest global brand valuation.[20] McDonald's has been subject to criticism over the health effects of its products, its treatment of employees,[21] and other business practices.

Worth a stop for a little taste of nostalgia served up with a side of golden fries. Such a fun piece of history...a walk up counter with outdoor seating. Seating also available in the little pavilion that includes a memorabilia walk-thru.