17. The first McDonald's fired up its grill in what city?
From Quiz US Restaurant Chain Origins
Answer:
San Bernadino, California
Although popular lore tells of the "first" McDonald's restaurant opened in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955, the very first McDonald's restaurant ever was actually opened in San Bernadino, California by the chain's founders, Dick and Mac McDonald, in 1940. The Des Plaines location was the first restaurant franchised to Ray Kroc, the man who gained fame (not to mention obscene riches!) by transforming the brand into the huge global phenomenon the chain became. That Des Plaines location was actually the ninth McDonald's restaurant in existence at the time. (First day register receipts in Des Plaines were $366.12!)
Ray Kroc later bought out the McDonald brothers' interest in their existing restaurants, making him sole owner of the McDonald's brand prior to the company going public in 1965. The original San Bernadino location is now a museum, as is the Des Plaines location. The McDonald's company today comprises over 31,000 locations in 120 countries! There is a McDonald's in every continent on earth except for Antarctica. Oak Brook, Illinois is the present-day company headquarters.