Juan Pollo

Juan Pollo Restaurants owns and operates the Site of the Original McDonalds Museum located in San Bernardino, Calif. In 1940, Dick and Mac Mcdonald opened McDonalds Barbeque Restaurant in San Bernardino, California, at 14th st. and E st. They had a staff of 20 attractive carhops and a 25 item menu that included barbeque ribs, beef, and pork sandwiches. They soon became the #1 teen hangout in the San Bernardino. Although the brothers were becoming very wealthy, they felt that there were too many headaches to running a large operation and felt there had to be a better system. Dick Mcdonald started studying his sales item by item and realized that 80% of his sandwiches sold were hamburgers! The brothers also realized two more important factors that shaped their thinking. 1. Although the restaurant was very busy, teens would hang out, chat with the carhops and not leave after eating thus reducing turnover. Less turnover meant less sales and less profit. 2. World War II ended and everyone was anxious to start new families. The brothers realized the potential of the coming baby boom generation and in turn wanted to create a wholesome family restaurant atmosphere to cater to them. In October of 1948, the brothers took the plunge (against the advice of all their customers) and closed their successful restaurant, terminated all their attractive carhops, reduced their menu to cheeseburgers, hamburgers, milkshakes, and fountain sodas, and reorganized their kitchen in order to specialize in speed of service, simplicity of menu, and low prices. Their revolutionary thinking forever changed the restaurant industry. The site of the birthplace of Mcdonalds and the modern fast food industry is open to the public every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.