The McDonald Brothers’ Idea That Ray Kroc Took to Illinois Then Worldwide

If you've ever wondered why McDonald's is called McDonald's, you can trace its origins to Ray Kroc, the founder, who was born in Illinois.

We've been eating at the Golden Arches for years, but little did I know Kroc took inspiration for a globally dominant restaurant chain from a tiny burger restaurant in California.

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According to McDonalds.com, the McDonald brothers, Richard and Maurice, demonstrated their ingenuity when they 'opened a burger restaurant in San Bernardino in 1940' and introduced the 'Speedee Service System.'

The McDonald Brothers' restaurant was more than just a place to grab a quick bite. It was the birthplace of fast food as we know it today. Their system was designed with a unique selling point: to offer great-tasting food served incredibly quickly.

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After a transformative visit to California, where he witnessed McDonald's efficient operations, Kroc returned to Illinois in 1955 to establish the first "McDonald's as we know it."

Driven by his vision and ambition, Kroc, as per HistoryCooperative, 'leveraged his rights as a franchise agent and adopted a zealous approach to expansion,' eventually taking over completely.

The story also states that Kroc took "control of the brand, paving the way for its global hegemony" and that "his alignment with the McDonald brothers eventually led to an outright purchase," giving Kroc full ownership.

The rest is burger history.