McDrive-Thru
April 29, 2016
News that the world’s oldest operating McDonald’s, located in Downey, California, was adding a drive-through after nearly 60 years without one, was confirmed in April of 2016. The historic landmark was first built in 1953 by Roger Williams and Bud Landon after the two of them bought franchise rights from the McDonald brothers.
“I love going to that McDonald’s,” Jeremy Barnett, 12, said. “That McDonalds stands out from all the rest. It almost feels as if you are stepping back in time.”
The 1950s McDonald’s does a good job at keeping its vintage feel for the era. The giant golden arches that make up some of the buildings architecture, along with the classic neon sign of “speedee,” are just a couple of quirks that make this location standout from the rest.
“I think adding a drive through is a smart choice,” Breana Bradford, 12, said. “The way they currently have it seems like it forces people to sit there and eat and not everyone wants to do that.”
It is possible however that the McDonald’s ability to stay in the past is doing it more harm than good. Back when the famous Big Mac was first introduced in 1968, the Downey McDonald’s refused to add it to their menu for years. Not to mention the fact that McDonald’s drive-thrus account for about 65 percent of the company’s sales in the Unites States. It comes as no shock when McDonald’s corporate says that this particular establishment has not been profitable for some time now.
“I like to go to the modern McDonald’s rather than the old one,” Jose Alvarez, 12, said. “The old McDonald’s seems like it takes longer to get your food, and most the time I like to use the drive through, which that one doesn’t have.”
We’ll just have to wait and see what kind of impact the addition of a drive-thru will have on the historic landmark. It makes sense that the McDonald’s should have to cater to the fast paced schedule of Californians.
