McDonald’s Day falls on April 15 and marks the anniversary of Ray Kroc’s first McDonald’s restaurant, which opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955. The date celebrates a milestone in the company’s expansion, although the original McDonald’s business began 15 years earlier in California.
McDonald’s Day appears on holiday calendars as an informal observance. Its connection to the restaurant anniversary is clear, but who first established the day and when it began are not well documented.
The History Behind McDonald’s Day
Brothers Richard “Dick” McDonald and Maurice “Mac” McDonald opened McDonald’s Bar-B-Q in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. In 1948, they reworked the business around a small menu and their Speedee Service System, which organized kitchen tasks to prepare orders quickly. Hamburgers cost 15 cents.
Ray Kroc encountered the restaurant in 1954 while selling milkshake mixers. Impressed by its operation, he became the brothers’ franchise agent. On April 15, 1955, he opened his own McDonald’s in Des Plaines. It was his first location, but the brothers had already franchised their concept before he joined them. Kroc later expanded the business and acquired the rights to the McDonald’s name and operating system in 1961 for $2.7 million.
Facts About McDonald’s
From early menu changes to ideas developed by franchise owners, these facts show how the restaurant grew over time:
- Kroc’s restaurant took in $366.12 on its first day. That was the opening-day sales total at the Des Plaines location in 1955.
- Fries were not always on the menu. French fries replaced potato chips in 1949, the same year McDonald’s introduced its Triple Thick Milkshakes.
- The Big Mac began as a local idea. Pennsylvania franchise owner Jim Delligatti introduced it in 1967. It joined the national menu in 1968.
- Most U.S. McDonald’s restaurants are franchised. At the end of 2025, approximately 95% were operated by franchisees.
- The United States had 13,706 McDonald’s restaurants at the end of 2025. The company reported 45,356 restaurants worldwide for the same year.
Ways to Observe McDonald’s Day
- Compare an early menu with today’s menu. Look at which foods have stayed, which have disappeared, and how the choices have expanded. McDonald’s company history includes photographs and a timeline that can help you explore the changes.
- Share a McDonald’s memory. Write about a childhood birthday party, a stop during a family road trip, or a first job behind the counter. Add a photograph if you have one and use #McDonaldsDay to join the conversation.
- Learn about the people behind the business. Read about the McDonald brothers’ kitchen system, Kroc’s role in expansion, or the franchise owners who developed new menu items.
- Order something you enjoy. If you choose to visit, have a longtime favorite or compare notes with someone whose usual order is different from yours.
