McDonald's - 10207 Lakewood Blvd: A Historic Dining Experience

As a fan of real neon signs and Americana - when we were visiting San Diego from Missouri - we decided it would be a fun road trip to see the oldest surviving McDonalds restaurant in Downey, CA. At the southwest corner of Lakewood Blvd and Florence Ave in Downey, you’ll find the unique looking McDonald’s. It has a little museum with a replica of the original San Bernardino restaurant, along with memorabilia, restrooms and a pretty hidden drive through that wraps around back. The sign appears to be going under restoration as the base of both yellow legs was opened and a few pieces of the white hamburgers sign were missing. It’s still a gorgeous piece of history and well worth seeing and ordering from the window. After Richard and Maurice McDonald perfected their ”Speedee Service System” in San Bernardino, CA, they hired architect Stanley Clark Meston and draftsman Charles Fish to design their vision for an iconic building for franchising. Meston and Fish took Richard’s idea of a fishbowl like restaurant where customers could see the action inside and designed a glass-enclosed stand with hyperbolic arches on either side; the original golden arches. The Downey location was franchised to Roger Williams and “Bud” Landon by the McDonald’s brothers and it opened in 1953. This was prior to Ray Kroc buying out the brothers in 1961, so this location did not have to adhere to the McDonald’s corporation franchise rules, including modernization standards.

This is the oldest McDonald’s still operating. It has a very cool nostalgic look to it. There is no inside it’s a walk up to the window and order. They do have seating that’s covered next to it that is also a museum of McDonald’s history and bathrooms inside. Very cool to see I love how it looks just the way it did back then. Food always on point can’t go wrong with a McDonald burger.

The oldest existing McDonald's worth a visit if in the area. They have a deep fried apply pie option not seen on normal mcdonalds menus.

What a fantastic experience! This is more than just a McDonald's; it's a piece of living history. I had a wonderful time on the museum tour, learning about the origins of this iconic brand and seeing the vintage decor. It's truly a step back in time. After the tour, I grabbed a classic Coca-Cola, and it was the perfect refreshing treat. The staff were so nice and friendly, and the whole atmosphere was just great. This location in Downey is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates a unique and nostalgic experience. Highly recommend!

Who doesn't want to eat a burger at the original store. What an experience, the museum is a great addition.

I love the look and history of this place. They definitely don’t serve you under 1 minute. Pretty slow in serving and employees are not friendly. Hamburger tasted great!

On our trip south we decided to stop by and check out the original McDonald's. There is a museum and a working McDonald's. We enjoyed looking through the museum. There is a bathroom in the museum. We also ordered some food because you gotta, right? The employees were nice, it did take a little while to get our food, the food was good (the fries were fresh). Check it out if you're in the area.

Such a cool piece of history. Yes, it's not the first McDonald's, it's painted through the lens of Ray Kroc, and there's definitely some revisionist history going on. But it's still a glimpse into what McDonald's once was. The Golden arches design, the attached museum, the large parking lot with a walk up window, it's more than just a standard McDonald's. However, it's not immune to the usual flaws. Service can be slow, orders may be wrong, and it feels a little unkempt. But it's so worth a trip to this underrated location to appreciate a little piece of Americana. And definitely try the fried apple pie!