The reopening will coincide with McDonald's 50th anniversary. Its first outlet was in northwest suburban Des Plaines, and the new look incorporates founder Ray Kroc's "red and white" design while offering diners 21st-century amenities such as Wi-Fi. In addition to two 60-ft tall Golden Arches, the two-story building will be topped by a "green roof" and offer seating for more than 300, twice the current capacity. The capacity of the drive-thru lanes off Ohio and Ontario streets, which lead to the Kennedy Expressway feeder ramp.
"At this important site, we are building a flagship restaurant that will showcase the great moments from our past, while also looking ahead to McDonald's bright future," says McDonald's USA president Mike Roberts. Although the first McDonald's hamburger stand was in Des Plaines, the company's first corporate headquarters was four blocks away at 221 N. LaSalle St., notes McDonald's vice chairman Jim Skinner.
The contemporary restaurant design was the brainchild of the late Jim Cantalupo, the company's former chairman and chief executive officer. "This new restaurant will be a landmark destination for tourists and city residents," predicts Mayor Richard M. Daley.
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