California doesn’t always knock down its important historical architecture! Case in point: this McDonald’s Hamburger fast-food restaurant is the third one built for the chain (it opened on August 18, 1953) and is now the oldest one still in existence. It’s at 10207 Lakewood Blvd in Downey, which puts it around halfway between downtown Los Angeles and Disneyland. But the main reason why I like this photo from September 6, 1954 is how striking the neon lighting is, especially those swooping arches, and silhouette of that car parked on the far left.
The restaurant hasn’t changed too much. This image is from March 2021.
You had to send Mcdonalds, Now you got me hungry. lol 2 cheeseburgers and a med coke please.
Yeah, I’d like to know what it cost to build that vs what it would cost to replace it today.
The cost of the land alone would probably be 5 times what it was.
20 times would be conservative on the land. The arches are structural steel members. The stores would have a basement for storage and a manager’s office with steel file cabinet. (The wall might contain a spring loaded false panel in which things are hidden.) Safe was kept downstairs in those days would be my guess. Workers had to lug the potatoes up and down stairs, before the frozen products came in to be stored in the main back walk-in by the delivery door (think roller racks to move it all). Bathroom was still outside access as the hall ways only came in when the new enclosed lobbies were built over the outside service area (sometimes where seating had been added first). Basic meal was the “All American” with small burger, fries, and soda. Even after it disappeared from menu boards it was still in the memory banks of registers, called up by the few who could remember to ask. The Happy Meal was just the A.A. with a toy added on for a small fee.
BTW…each store had an actual sequential number for the national system, not by state or region. It went onto the register receipts into the ’90’s at least. Would be fun to know what spot this one was given.
Phenomenal summary, many thanks.
I suggest checking the dates. The new design could not pre-date opening of San Bernadino that still used the the old store design.
And #1&2??
I assume #1 and #2 are long gone.
I used to work in Downey and drove by that McDonald’s on the way to lunch any times. We never ate there. A great Italian place was about about a block away.
Actually, I don’t think I’ve eaten at McDonald’s in over 30 years. I’m no saint! I just prefer other fast food options — In-n-Out, for example.
I’ve been a vegetarian for 35 so that’s how long it’s been since I had a Big Mac. I wonder how it would taste to me now!
Yucky, probably!
Knock you out – all that fat & salt.
You couldn’t pay me to eat at In&Out.
Burger King, maybe.
Mickey D’s is my favorite.
Everybody’s tastes are different. I didn’t even like McD’s as a kid.
I grew up next door to Downey in the 1960s and went to that McDonalds many times. This was before they had Big Macs. A burger, fries, and shake cost less than $1.00. We didn’t think McDonald’s was anything special.
Wow, so you’ve been eating McDonalds since *before* the Big Mac! And some people might argue that McDonalds *still* isn’t anything special!
This McDonald’s is special for one simple reason, it exists.
I wish they would have kept the original marque they had in 54. I used to love that little walking hamburger with the sign. Back in those days there was no sitting except for a couple tables outside. Simplicity was the ticket back then. Thanks Martin for a trip down memory lane.