McDonald's No. 1 Inches Closer To Wrecking Ball

DES PLAINES, IL -- The McDonald’s #1 Store Museum in Des Plaines has inched closer to demolition with an application submitted to Cook County to tear the structure down later this month. McDonald’s Corporation in Oak Brook has applied for demolition permits with both Cook County and Des Plaines, a city official confirmed. Once McDonald’s has the county demolition permit in hand, the city is likely to issue a demolition permit.

Due to persistent flooding, McDonald’s Corporation announced earlier this year that it would be tearing down the replica of the first store at 400 Lee St. in Des Plaines built by founder Ray Kroc. McDonald’s has proposed demolishing the museum and gifting Des Plaines with the land. The 1955 structure was torn down in 1984 -- the year of Kroc’s death -- and rebuilt it using the original blueprints. Des Plaines’ status as the home of the first store to usher in the modern fast food era has been a point of civic pride for residents.

The City of Destiny hasn’t given up on saving the structure. Shari Caine, executive director of the Des Plaines History Center, met with one of McDonald’s executives in Oak Brook earlier this week to make a pitch to save the #1 store from the wrecking ball.

“It was basically an introductory meeting to let them know that as a community, Des Plaines is interested in preserving the McDonald’s museum site and keeping it intact with the building in place,” Caine said. “We wanted to let them know that we’re interested and hoping that McDonald’s would not tear the building down.”

Caine said the McDonald’s executive they met with was cordial and open in talking with the history center. “He made no promises but said he would take it back to other decision makers and give it further consideration,” she said.

Caine didn’t think McDonald’s representatives would let them move to the building to another location within Des Plaines city limits. The Volo Auto Museum has also voiced interest in buying the museum building and moving it to its 35-acre site in Volo, Ill.

“They are holding on to the idea of protecting their brand and being responsible to their shareholders,” she said. “It’s an important asset. That’s understanding. We addressed the idea of preserving the brand.”

After McDonald’s has its permits in order, demolition is likely to proceed this month, pending any last minute miracles. The city’s demolition permit does not require approval by the Des Plaines City Council. The demolition date is up to the McDonald’s Corporation and its demolition contractor.

Photo by Lorraine Swanson, Patch Editor