Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm not flaunting it.....but the world's largest and arguably the most famous restaurant chain is certainly something that ties Chicago to the world. I had an elderly neighbor back in Chicago who was in charge of a team building the initial Japanese McDonald's in Japan in the early 70's. He became fluent in Japanese and later translated Japanese literature...in other words, he was a worldly, cosmopolitan yet nondescript conservatively dressed Midwestern businessman, someone that 90% of SF trendoids (or Hippie as it would have been in his day)would most likely pigeonhole as an unsophisticated Midwesterner/Chicagoan.
frankly, given my experience, Chicagoans are every bit as well-traveled, knowledgable of the world, and in their own (unpretentious) way, every bit as 'cosmopolitan' as a Nob Hill heiress.
In fact, as much as I love San Francisco (visited there dozens of times), I have to say it may in fact be the most provincial of America's great cities...take that for what it's worth.
I would go as far as saying that McDonald's is more associated with California than Chicago anyhow.
A few hamburger stands agreed to make a licensing agreement with a Chicago businessman in the mid-50's...and absolutely everything since then came out of the company in Chicago.
My main point anyways is not the perception of the origins, but THE FACT that the world's largest and most iconic food establishment, with all that entails in terms of a globalized business endeavor, happened from Chicago. Thousands if not tens of thousands of Chicago-based employees have been traveling to the four corners of the world for decades building an amazing company, arguably the world's premier example of a global business.....regardless of what you think about their menu.
I'm pretty sure majority of the average joe don't associate McDonald's, corporation or otherwise, with any one particular city. Having said that, without Southern California, the "largest and most iconic food establishment" would not exist in the first place. Origins are important. McDonald's was operating a full 14-15 years (it was not just some hamburger stands and they had franchisees already) before Ray Kroc came in the picture. The foundation was laid for him. To his credit, he did take it to another level.
McDonald's was founded in SoCal, the oldest operating McDonald's is still in SoCal, and the Golden Arches design is a product of a SoCal architect. If anything, McDonald's is a Southern California institution.
I'm pretty sure majority of the average joe don't associate McDonald's, corporation or otherwise, with any one particular city. Having said that, without Southern California, the "largest and most iconic food establishment" would not exist in the first place. Origins are important. McDonald's was operating a full 14-15 years (it was not just some hamburger stands and they had franchisees already) before Ray Kroc came in the picture. The foundation was laid for him. To his credit, he did take it to another level.
McDonald's was founded in SoCal, the oldest operating McDonald's is still in SoCal, and the Golden Arches design is a product of a SoCal architect. If anything, McDonald's is a Southern California institution.
Exactly, the average Joe associates McDonalds with SoCal more than anywhere else.
I'm pretty sure majority of the average joe don't associate McDonald's, corporation or otherwise, with any one particular city. Having said that, without Southern California, the "largest and most iconic food establishment" would not exist in the first place. Origins are important. McDonald's was operating a full 14-15 years (it was not just some hamburger stands and they had franchisees already) before Ray Kroc came in the picture. The foundation was laid for him. To his credit, he did take it to another level.
McDonald's was founded in SoCal, the oldest operating McDonald's is still in SoCal, and the Golden Arches design is a product of a SoCal architect. If anything, McDonald's is a Southern California institution.
Please....do you know that Chicago's film industry predates Hollywood??....so obviously the American film industry is a Chicago (and New York) institution.
LA only played a minor role, just like Chicago played just a minor role in the growth of McDonald's. Just following your logic.
Oh and Motorola invented the cell phone in Chicago so obviously the cell phone industry is a Chicago institution.
Please....do you know that Chicago's film industry predates Hollywood??....so obviously the American film industry is a Chicago (and New York) institution.
LA only played a minor role, just like Chicago played just a minor role in the growth of McDonald's. Just following your logic.
Oh and Motorola invented the cell phone in Chicago so obviously the cell phone industry is a Chicago institution.
You're talking about things almost nobody knows about, a lot of people know that the first McDonald's was in SoCal, that's the difference.
But the actual corporation was founded by Croc in Chicago, he was impressed by the small business (one of his clients) made a deal and took it over and started the first company owned restaurant in Chicago.....everything you know about the company, the big Mac, breakfast, drive -thrus, Ronald McDonald, quarter pounders, mcnuggets, Happy Meals, and the M golden arch logo is from the Chicago based company. If it wasn't fir Croc, McDonaldsmost likely would have ended up being taken over and turned into a taco stand.
^Thank goodness for Wiki to give us the inside scoop eh?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
