History of McDonald's

This is a timeline of the history of McDonald's.

<!--** * NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT LIST COUNTRY OPENINGS IN THE COMPANY HISTORY, UNLESS THEY'RE REALLY NOTABLE, SUCH AS FIRST ON A CONTINENT, FIRST COMMUNIST COUNTRY, THE OPENING WAS TIED TO AN IMPORTANT EVENT, OR THE FIRST McD IN A TOP-5 MARKET. THERE ARE OTHERWISE JUST TOO MANY COUNTRIES TO LIST, AND WE HAVE List of countries with McDonald's franchises FOR THAT - IT NEEDS YOUR HELP, ESPECIALLY WITH OPENING DATES AND THE LIKE. THANKS ** * -->The McDonald's concept was introduced in San Bernardino, California by Dick and Mac McDonald of Manchester, New Hampshire. It was modified and expanded by their business partner, Ray Kroc, of Oak Park, Illinois, who later bought out the business interests of the McDonald brothers in the concept and went on to found McDonald's Corporation.

United States

Early history

In 1937, Patrick McDonald opened "The Airdrome" restaurant near the Monrovia Airport in Monrovia, California. Hamburgers were ten cents, and all-you-can-drink orange juice was five cents. In 1940, his two sons, Maurice and Richard ("Mac" and "Dick"), moved the entire building west, to 14th and E Streets in San Bernardino, California. The restaurant was renamed "McDonald's".

In 1948, Mac and Dick McDonald introduced the "Speedee Service System", which established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. After they realized most of their profits came from selling...
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