The revolution began in San Bernardino, make no
mistake. The year
was 1948 when Richard and Maurice McDonald turned their barbecue restaurant at 1398 N. E
St. into a wildly successful hamburgers-french fries-shakes drive-in. The brothers
expanded to other locations, then formed a partnership with franchising maniac Ray Kroc.
Dozens of imitators followed,
changing America's eating habits forever.
Not that the rest of country cares
that the corner of 14th and E is Ground Chuck Zero for the entire fast-food industry. But
San Bernardino's nostalgia-prone do. And today they might just be a little nervous about
the physical preservation of that bit of city lore:
It's. for sale.
For a mere
$135,000, the historic landmark property - now a 4,200-square-foot office
building - is yours.
But, pretty please,
for hamburger history's sake, don't mess with the sign board or the two pieces of terrazzo
flooring out front, OK? They are the only remnants of the original restaurant. And could
you leave the plaque that was dedicated in 1992 alone?
Unfortunately, said Tom Firek, the
agent handling the sale for commercial real-estate firm Lazar & Lauer, "There
doesn't seem to be any requirement for the buyer to maintain" the history.
Firek said no government agency
state or local - has officially deemed the property a historic landmark, mainly because
the original building no longer stands.
For the last eight
years, it was the property of the San Bernardino Civic Light Opera. It was CLO officials,
in fact, who took pains to preserve the site's legacy. In 1992, CLO manager C. Dale Jenks
arranged for McDonald's to dedicate a plaque at the site - the first time the corporation
had officially recognized San Bernardino as its birthplace.
Richard McDonald, now living in
New Hampshire, also was on hand for the unveiling of the freshly painted, original
signboard out front, which featured a new, but familiar red-and-yellow arches logo and the
words "Historic site of the original McDonald's."
Two years ago,
however, CLO suspended its operations, $1.2 million in debt. Treasurer Gene Wood said the
organization has since settled with all of its creditors - with the pending sale of its
real estate to end a final financial obligation to Wells Fargo.
It's been almost a year since 1398
N. E St. was first listed at more than $200.000. Firek said he has shown the building to
more than 30 prospective buyers. Three formal offers were accepted - and all fell through.
In the meantime, a couple of
letters have fallen from the CLO sign and vandals spray painted the building (since
covered over). The paint on the McDonald's logo has peeled a bit. But the building,
parking lot and landscaping remain sound.
Firek said prospective buyers have
included those looking for commercial real estate as well as numerous church groups.
What some are
hoping is that the First Church of St. Ronald McDonald makes the purchase - or at least
someone with an interest in preserving, if not outright exploiting, the McDonald's
connection. Firek said one client even talked of opening a McDonald's museum there.
Lazar and Lauer President Rick
Lazar said the building's location isn't well suited for a retail site, but "is a
great buy for someone looking for, administrative offices - or a creative individual who
has a great idea And knows what to do with the history."
It's clear that many San
Bernardinoans have a sentimental attachment to the place.
"I have many fond memories of
my parents taking me to the corner of 14th and E for a treat at McDonald's - hamburger,
fries and Coke," said Jane Sneddon, a longtime employee of the city clerk's office
who grew up in town. "San Bernardino had the first McDonald's and I think people
should know that - contrary to what McDonald's says."
In fact,
corporation literature cites a restaurant in Des Plaines, Ill., as the first, since it was
the one that Ray Kroc first opened after he went into partnership with the McDonalds.
The REAL first restaurant stayed
open for decades. Ironically, in 1961, Kroc bought out the brothers' franchising interests
for $2.7 million, and quickly built a new restaurant one block away at 15th and E in 1962.
Since the brothers no longer owned
the rights to their own name, they were forced to rename their place Big M. They did keep
their own M-shaped arches, which Richard McDonald had designed himself.
In .1968, the restaurant was sold
to Neal Baker, of Baker's fame, whose employees sold burgers there until 1980. At that
time, the property was sold, and the restaurant razed to make room for a new building and
business - Lopez House of Music. It remained a music store until 1990 when the CLO bought
it and converted it to use for office space and ticket sales.
What now?
Firek said "the corporate
level" of McDonald's is not interested in the property. That's not surprising, since
it has always been reluctant to recognize its San Bernardino roots.
At this point, it could go to
anyone - and not necessarily anyone interested in fast-food legend.
However, Firek thinks someone with
McDonald's ties - perhaps a franchiser - may still surface and come up with a way to use
the space, and highlight the memories.
As someone who used to cruise down
E Street as a San Gorgonio High School student and pull off at 14th Street for a burger
himself, Firek said, "Whoev4w buys it - it would be nice if they keep the
history."
05-24-98
The Historic Site