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Setting the scene
Brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald ran a successful drive-in in San Bernardino, California, but tired of carhop chaos; in 1948 they relaunched with a limited menu and 'Speedee Service System' emphasizing fast, repeatable burgers and fries.
What happened
McDonald's was founded in 1940 when the brothers opened their first McDonald's Bar-B-Q drive-in on Fourteenth and E Streets before pivoting to the streamlined model that attracted milkshake machine salesman Ray Kroc.
Why it still matters
Ray Kroc later scaled franchising globally from Des Plaines, Illinois, turning golden arches into the world's largest restaurant chain; the brothers' original site is now a museum, while McDonald's shapes global beef supply, labor debates, and fast-food architecture worldwide.
Background
Ray Kroc later scaled franchising globally.