McDonald's to remove its Store No. 1 Museum in US

The world's largest fast food chain McDonald's has announced to demolish its Store No. 1 Museum at suburban area of Chicago, which is a replica of its first restaurant.

The restaurant in Des Plaines of Illinois state opened in 1955 by Ray Kroc, who is considered by the corporation to be the hamburger chain's founder, and it was torn down in 1984, the same year Kroc died. Kroc franchised the brand from the original owners, Richard and Maurice McDonald.

The museum, opened in 1985 with the original restaurant's sign out front, was once popular with tourists. However, tourist numbers have declined due to repeated flooding of the site since 2008, which led the museum to close off interior access in that year.

A mannequin dressed in the 1955 McDonald’s uniform at the First Store Museum in Des Plaines, Illinois, US.

“This property in Des Plaines will always have a special place in our company’s history,” McDonald’s said in a statement, adding that the building’s location and “feasibility to reopen and maintain it led us to this decision.”

"The re-created restaurant... has not regularly welcomed visitors since closing to the public 10 years ago," McDonald's said.

McDonald's plans to tear down the museum next month and donate the land to the City of Des Plaines.

(AFP)