50 Years Ago Today
Yes, on April 15, 1955, Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, IL. The first day's take was $366.12, an amount the franchise probably takes in every fraction of a second. To commemorate this milestone date, their River North "flagship" opened today. I strolled over at lunch to check it out (though I have to admit that I ate elsewhere).
Also, Lynn Becker's review of the building is featured on his site. Titled "Schlock Corridor", the piece gives some insight into the context that this building fits into, with a photo portrait of the area and a solicitation for a "Schlock Corridor Concept."
How many arches do you count?
I just don't know what to say about this thing.
The glass wall opts to reflect the street and sidewalk.
Velvet ropes at a McDonald's?
Yes, that's an ambulance at the drive thru, and no, it's not ordering lunch.
Update 04.16: Some gratuitous night shots:
posted by John @
3:37 PM <--permalink show/hide-->
5 comments
5 Comments:
When compared to the giant tree frog on the rain forest cafe located nearby, the McD's is not so bad.
When compared to about anything else, it is terrifying.
Thought I would stop in to say, "Hi"!!! Cool pics.
Howdy
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spam, is there no place you won't go?
Okay, so don't take this the wrong way, I think the new Mickey D's is horrible, downright terrifying, but I like the reflecting wall on the front of the place.
I agree that the canted, sometimes-reflective wall is probably the design's best asset, but the detailing of the spider fittings is extrememly clunky, like everything is twice as big as it should be.
Don't take this the wrong way, but considering it is an American institution (good or bad) it has a right to honoring it's past. Don't get me wrong. There was an opportunity to move forward, but it is replacing the ol' Rock n' Roll McDonalds. It is a step up. There are other opportunities to have forward looking architecture than in the neighborhood of Hard Rock, old Planet Hollywood, Debevics, and Rain Forest. Tourists and others need to be enlightened, but it is quite a difficult task.
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