Chicago’s Lost Rock n’ Roll McDonald’s (What Happened?)

[@bearworldwide101]

Stupidest decision McDonalds did was tear down R&R McDonald's for the crap exists now.

[@steamintrumpstains]

you mean the slim beef poop Mcdoanlds serves up

[@qolspony]

1st or 2nd one?

[@Afuw41]

I visited it back in 2014, it was grandios. But I would be more happy and excited if they brought back the orginal good from the 80s and early 90s instead of that declining crap they call food now.

[@user-nn7ct3hk7c]

@@Afuw41 burgers are trash but those fries and nuggets still are still 🔥

[@Afuw41]

You have one of a kind of taste bud to like them Powder nuggets 🤷🏻‍♂️ . Once upon of time, the was crispy on the outside tender on the inside real chicken breast.

[@kittylaroux17]

Hearing Westley Willis open for Local H at the Metro is probably one of the most Chicago things to ever happen.

[@BLUE_OCTOBER-TRIX]

Copasetic is an awesome jam

[@Chungus_E_Mungus]

That’s amazing

[@girldaddividendinvestor]

"ROCK N ROLL MCDONALD'S"🎵🎵 😅😅

[@girldaddividendinvestor]

Saw him constantly in college, finally approached him at Alkaline Trio in 02. Amazing man. 😂😂😂

[@BudsCartoon]

I went to a "secret show" at the Metro in 98, 99? from Marlboro Miles. It was Soul Asylum. They even did TLC's Waterfalls.

[@ampersand2001]

RIP to Wesley Willis, the legend.

[@athiestjesus8133]

Rock Over London, Rock on Chicago!!

[@uncletrick1]

I grew up in Chicago and visited the R&R McDonald’s frequently. I moved away in 2004, and had no idea that all of this happened since then. 😢

[@culcune]

I visited Chicago in 2002 (I was born there in '69 and moved to L.A. with my family in '79, but visited relatives somewhat sporadically over the years), and my cousins took me and my wife there. So I got to see the pre-2005 rebuild, and had no idea what happened to it since. I visited with my daughter and son in 2021, and thought of taking them to see it, but it wouldn't have been there--we didn't have time anyway, but sad to know it's gone.

[@DiMotherShip]

Eye didn't either n eye still live here

[@coreybabcock2025]

I left in 2011

[@amandabillingsley9436]

Same, I went back this weekend and I was pissed. I should have made a scene😂

[@brianarbenz1329]

McDonald’s turned something unique and authentic into another fast food outlet. A metaphor for what the company did to American life.

[@jmcnally647]

Yeah I stopped going inside once the automated order kiosks showed up and there were no longer people to easily interact with. Then once the order from the phone app was pushed more so than the drive thru window I was done. So sick of restaurants pushing the order by phone apps and downplaying more traditional order options. Not likely the trend will change but I feel like something important is being lost by automating the entre food delivery process in some restaurants.

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@jmcnally647 They're looking to replace workers with robots.

[@fahgedaboudit]

Yeah, they really fucked up by doing that. It was literally the busiest McDonald's in the COUNTRY. There's a lot to be for "leave well enough alone."

[@josephprather1614]

I moved the original owners son out of her house and into an apartment. She lived in a huge mansion. She took me down into her basement and showed me all of the old McDonalds memorabilia that she stored away. It was awesome to see so much stuff that she saved. It was like walking around In a McDonald's museum. I have been to the R&R McDonald's a few times and it is sad to see what has happened to the place.

[@WilkinsonX]

I miss rock and roll McDonald’s. It was a good place to listen to the music. People flocked there to get down to the rock music.

[@Giratina1999]

McDonald’s was the place to rock

[@CaptainTonus]

You didn't mention the craziest thing about Rock & Roll McDonald's--they had pizza! I grew up in Arlington Heights and definitely went on at least one school trip to the Rock & Roll McDonald's, and I'll never forget how cool it was. Thanks for making this video!

[@northdakotaham1752]

I enjoyed seeing the Rock & Roll McDonald's also on my frequent trips into the city. I always went through the drive thru however and never parked to see the inside of the building. I lived at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights for seven years....1991 - 1997.

[@phaedrapage4217]

Was the pizza good? Like, Chicago pizza good?

[@CaptainTonus]

@@phaedrapage4217 no, not at all

[@kathleenwalker8842]

And delivered.

[@h8GW]

Wait, actual pizza, or what Chicagoans call "pizza", aka deep-dish?

[@KevinFields777]

I like the aesthetics of the new McDonald's, but they made a mistake tearing this iconic one down. Some things are just best left alone.

[@ICONICPARIS]

Totally agree

[@Juwellz18]

I agree

[@dougfredricks2017]

"If it ain't broke don't fix it."

[@rarecandy3445]

@chadstengel9581you dont know what communism is

[@AliColak]

They shoulda at least preserved their history smh

[@ghostrider_414]

We had one like that in Milwaukee called the Solid Gold McDonald's. It had Harley Davidson seats and a giant Moon Man that played a piano.

[@coreybabcock2025]

I used to live on 31 st and WI Ave in 2004 !

[@Der_Ingenieur]

It was on 76th street a bit north of Southridge mall. Went there many times back in the late 90’s. They still had an MCD in that location last time I was there, but they got rid of all the special memorabilia etc years ago.

[@cedarpointfan5]

Last thanksgiving, my high school’s band performed in Chicago’s thanksgiving day parade. Having no where else to go for lunch, we ended up at the remodeled McDonald’s. We had NO clue of the rich and somewhat tragic history of the location! Super cool to learn about!

[@OVERHERE-OVERHERE]

Respectfully, I did not know Chicago has a Thanksgiving day parade, I never heard of any other than Macy’s in NYC

[@cedarpointfan5]

@@OVERHERE-OVERHERE lol it was definitely not as big as Macy’s parade in New York, but still a super fun experience!

[@kathleenwalker8842]

I worked at the original Rock-N-Roll McDonalds as a first asst. mgr. back in the 90s. It was one of the most exciting jobs ever! I met famous ppl like Mr.T, Malcolm Jamal Warner, Horace Grant, BJ Armstrong, Macaulay Culkin, and ABCs Dick Johnson. We sold souvenirs, made pizza, delivered orders. It was always busy. I wish it hadn't been torn down. I was a landmark. I didn't meet Wesley while working there. However, I did meet him while I was working at the Gold Coast "Kinko's". He used to come there to make copies of some of his lyrics. R. I. P.

[@PeterTea]

Growing up in Chicago, I always remember the life sized mannequins of the Beatles walking like a cut out from Abbey Road. Great memories!

[@mackpines]

As a fast food and company historian, this was just incredible. I’d always wanted to visit this particular McDonald’s but, never made it to Chicago. Another fascinating video.

[@Ys-ll9su]

well up in eindhoven (Netherlands) there is another R&R MCD so feel free to come over and visit!

[@clowchan]

Only knew about it because of the late, great Wesley Willis. "Rock over London, Rock on Chicago. Wheaties - Breakfast of Champions"

[@Ifixstuf]

For those who are McDonald's fans, there are a lot of McDonald's that still have themes and aren't poop brown with no character

[@archive6094]

Now the song is back in my head

[@adamaizenberg756]

I went to Rock n Roll McDonalds so many times as a kid I was frickin heartbroken when they got rid of it. There were so many different areas to eat in and the music would fit the era you’re sitting in. There was Superman phone booth in there and a dark area like you were sitting in a drive in. Miss that place!

[@coreybabcock2025]

I'm sad too

[@mr3366]

I remember taking a field trip downtown and we got to stop at rock and roll McDonald’s, it felt like a different place. Was amazing. I work down the street from it now and man what a sad sight.

[@coreybabcock2025]

Definitely agree

[@DelmarToad]

Great video, a very fascinating study of corporate hubris & greed. They were on top of the world with that Rock n Roll restaurant but couldn’t keep it going & had to ruin a good thing. Sounds about right.

[@spddiesel]

Dude, the original R&R McD's was awesome. Grew up 2 hours west, any trip into the city usually included a stop there, if only for a shake as we walked around. Obviously this was back in the late 80's/early 90's, I wouldn't walk around that town anymore.

[@beddietv6139]

I still go to this McDonald's everyday for a large cold Hi-C. Portillo's and Hard Rock Cafe at it's sides. Chicagoan with Pride!!!!!

[@nolifey]

Ah yes always fun to see a bum sleeping in a booth while you eat, or get stank-eyed through the glass by dirty DoorDash bicyclists hanging out just outside

[@jameskason8320]

Oh my god I had no idea this place was real Wesley Willis is awesome

[@jamiecobb5066]

Rock over London, rock over Chicago!

[@asalways1504]

All right,be honest, how many of you came here because of the Westley Willis song?

[@DaimosZ]

I did

[@Jude74]

Guilty

[@Robloxity_News]

Yeah

[@BonnieDragonKat]

Nope. I came to find out what happened to my favorite McDonald's.

[@Scott_Newmaster]

Who?

[@BonnieDragonKat]

It was right next to the hard rock cafe originally. She was a beautiful store. I worked for a sister store that was set to become a Rock and Roll store. I cried when I heard she was gone. She was the corporate flagship and still is.

[@subparnaturedocumentary]

rock over london, rock on chicago!

[@ZMAN_420]

Great Content, I was there 10-15 years ago. There was no dollar menu, back when the dollar menu was a thing. I remember it being 3 times more $ than the McDonald's by my house.

[@emhutchi]

Thank you. I was wondering why Rock and Roll McDonalds was gone and replaced by that God-awful iPhone of a building. This is what we get when corporations think ESG isn't just a hedge fund gimmick and what customers want.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

I live in that neighborhood and went to the Rock and Roll McDonald's frequently, it was a clean, pleasant place - preferred it to the Portillo's across the street. The reason it was changed is that it was almost always mostly empty - there were no lines, most of the seating areas upstairs were closed off most shifts for lack of customers. If there was a time that this was the busiest McDonald's in the nation, it was long, long past. Times change and the "Rock and Roll" theme is now passe' - neighborhoods change, too. This block gets much less foot traffic than it used to, it's now surrounded on all four sides by busy streets. The new building, while not exciting, is also a clean, pleasant place. They have greatly increased their drive through capacity which is what most people are interested in these days. People here whining about the demise of the Rock and Roll McDonald's had probably not visited it once in the last dozen years (if ever) and definitely have no insight into the declining revenue of this location. McDonald's succeeds by reinventing itself, not by capitulating to whiners who live in the past and contribute no revenue to the store.

[@cassidybb10]

We had a rock n roll McDonald's here in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio. Built in the early 90s and remodeled 2015. Lost all of the Rock n Roll motif, classic car outside, etc.

[@Josh-yr7gd]

In 2009 I visited Chicago with friends and seeing this McDonald's in person was a site to behold. We were walking around and all of a sudden this huge nostalgic McDonald's appeared. I couldn't believe my eyes. I took a number of photos with my digital camera.

[@compactedorb3135]

I grew up in Chicago and we visited this McDonald's a lot. Later in life I worked at McDonald's and soon had a few shifts at the classic red and white rock and roll McDonald's and I never had a chance to breathe. It was non stop but I loved that place so much. My wife and I had our first date there stamping out our I love yous on little metal coins which we still carry to this day.

[@coreybabcock2025]

Awesome !!!

[@northdakotaham1752]

Thank you for this video. I remember going through the drive thru at the Rock & Roll McDonalds when I lived there in the 90s. Very sad to see what happened to it and it's a huge loss for the upcoming generations.

[@machinegunangel]

Rockin’ with London, Rock On Chicago. Wheaties. Breakfast of Champions.

[@cameroncalzone8860]

when i first moved to Chicago in 2016 one of my favorite things was to sit in a torn up booth on the second floor and watch the cold winter city from the big windows as i ate a double cheeseburger meal

[@AlienDude51]

"The building was criticized for being stuck to the company's roots and profiting off nostalgia" those seem like things that would be good for the building?!

[@jasonmims5057]

I remember eating breakfast at this McDonald's on my first solo trip to Chicago. I sat on the second level and looked out over the city. It felt very special.

[@booch2912]

We didn't have a fancy McDonald's but we had Burger King Castle in Meriden Connecticut. Building was shaped like a castle a had a large play room, huge arcade similar to Chuckie Cheese, a huge party room with singing creepy animatronics and more. Was awesome place as a child to frequent.

[@SoundsOfSushi]

Isn’t that the place where they steam their patties with cheese?

[@robertcalhoun3123]

When I used to go to Chicago I would always stay at the LaSalle Motor Inn and eat at the Rock and Roll McDonald's. It's all gone now.

[@peterlenihan5712]

The McDonalds in my area used to have similar decor. A larger dinosaur dressed as Elvis was central in the seating area. It was beautiful and fun… they’ve since remodeled and it’s now just a hideous normal McDonald’s… haven’t eaten McDonald’s since the remodel

[@SynchroSk8]

I remember the Rock & Roll McDonalds pre-2005 version was the one I remember going to as a teen. Things to do in the 1990s as high schoolers, go to the Rock & Roll McDonalds.

[@actionjackson5646]

We had a Rock n Roll McDonald's in Iowa City, Iowa too. IT was my favorite when I was a kid. Went to the Chicago one a few times myself also.

[@PhilCarbone-wt5gj]

I quit the McDonald's fantasy when they tore down the corporate store in Oak Brook Shopping Center. They said the store cost too much to keep open, yet it was busy most of the time. Since then, the quality of the food and service has reached third world country status. RIP McDonalds.

[@goodmaro]

I had no idea Wesley Willis's piece referred to an actual place with that identity!

[@hoboontheic]

Wow! Great video of a Chicago landmark I visited as kid. Then you bring Wesley Willis into it. I saw him live at Off The Alley in Homewood.He’s a legend that made his mark on Chicago history.

[@goldenpezboy1]

I stayed near this McDonald's over St. Patrick's Day weekend! I had wondered why the building looked so different compared to its siblings.

[@thisisjohnboarman]

Another great video.They had some locations for these elsewhere, not nearly as big. We had one where I lived in Maryland, remember going there quite a few times.

[@strykerentllc]

Anyone recall the Super Chevy cover of 1989 that featured Chicago's fastest street cars in the drive-thru of the original Rock-n-Roll McDonald's? Iconic times that will never be experienced again. Marty Bilecki's Chevelle was the lead car in the line. Marty has since passed and the car has drifted into obscurity. Thanks for featuring this location.

[@spiritof1977]

The shout out to Wesley Willis is amazing!

[@tommyanderson-filmmaker3976]

I'm originally from Madison, WI just north of Chicago, yes we knew about it. Back then McDonalds at least in our area from Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago the managers could all establish a theme. Some were racing, aviation, firefighting, etc. Back then they were all fun to go too. I'm sorry they are all gone.

[@adamramsey5787]

I would say that around 2012 or so, that is when Disney started to lose its mind, that is, lose sight of what it was. I find it interesting the shift in McDonalds the video was showing.

[@TTM9691]

They tear it down and rebuild it again in 2005, only to tear it down and rebuild it again 12 years later. Must be great having so much money to piss away like that. Meanwhile Elvis Presley and The Beatles (and other rock & roll acts) continue to be beloved and popular money-makers well into the 21st century; this past year there was a major documentary mini-series about The Beatles on Disney, and a feature length biopic of Elvis. The only thing missing from this video is: how's business at the new Mickey D's? Does it do less business? I'd love to hear that nobody goes in it, lol.

[@HighDesertReporter760]

While attending McDonald's Hamburger U in 1988, we toured Rock and Roll McDonald's. It was a beautiful building. I'm sorry to hear that it's gone. Sad. Thanks for the video.

[@droningharry]

MY wife and I went there on a date just before we were married and then anytime we were in the City we took our 3 kids there there. BTW there was a Rock N Roll McDonalds in Gurnee, Illinois on the outside loop drive of Gurnee Mills Mall. Nowhere near as big but some really cool stuff. It was kinda a hidden treasure, no hype you just found it and were like wow, didn't know this was here. Some more good info, thanks you always bring us back to when we were young. Thinks that had been forgotten come through and the memories rush in, keep it up!

[@OverlyEpux]

McDonald's is the place to rock It is a restaurant where they buy food to eat It is a good place to listen to the music People flock here to get down to the rock music

[@jeffadkins6816]

Can you do a video on the former McDonald's HQ in Oak Brook? Pre 9/11, you could eat on the first floor of one of the office buildings and order off a Menu that included items available throughout the world at McDonald's...I went there in the mid 90s and believe Beer & Wine was also available. Keep up the great videos... especially love the Chicago stuff.

[@kandipiatkowski8589]

While I've never been to that exact McDonald's, as a fan of historic architecture, I can understand the dismay of some people that these buildings are not being preserved. There are similar situations going on all over the country. In my hometown of Wichita, KS, there is currently a battle going on to get rid of one of the major buildings in our skyline....simply because it doesn't meet the current style and esthetic. I was very dismayed at the new public library downtown. It is simply a glass box, nothing nostalgic or interesting (unlike the previous location that was modeled after Frank Lloyd Wright style of architecture.).

[@JG-tt4sz]

Today's glass box architecture is tomorrow's nostalgia.

[@TAURELLIAN]

@@JG-tt4sz doubt these cheap structures will make it that long

[@scottguthrie8074]

I worked there for a year in 1992. I don't recall a second story, but I do recall the outrageous conduct of guests in the drive-thru! Thank God we always had an off duty cop on hand!

[@HIRTMAN96]

There was a 50's McDonald's around the corner from my house. Changed it to this modern stuff and I never went back there.

[@madelynjohnston7317]

I am so glad I was able to go here as a kid before it got torn down

[@ginomo80]

I used to love going there as a kid.

[@amandabillingsley9436]

Same😭

[@harperwiccan475]

the problem with being a Chicago resident and going there was that it was the most expensive location and still is out of all locations in the city. I understand the prices for tourists who visit Chicago and the prices there merely seemed identical to those of the city's airport prices. Im 37 but i remember visiting at least 7 times in my childhood but as i got older and visited even the newly rebuilt structure, the prices were still out ridiculous.

[@nolifey]

I live right down the block. My apartment balcony looks down on the McDonald’s there. The modern minimalist building they built in R&R’s place is so hollow and depressing. There’s no more color or pizzazz, it’s frequented by bums and considered a meeting spot for sketchy delivery bikers. The icing on the cake: everything on the menu still costs $1 more than any other location, as if there is still some novelty or experience to be found.

[@Jude74]

My personal favorite Wesley Willis song is ‘I whooped Batman‘s ass’. Legend.

[@chi-townryno6998]

Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, love the videos brother 👍

[@bmjv77]

I grew up in Kankakee, IL. Every time I was meeting with friends in the city, we'd always meet at the R&R McDonald's. Every 90s kid knew exactly where it was at.

[@amandabillingsley9436]

Yup!😭

[@mrmoose6619]

I am so glad I knew of Wesley Willis's work and getting to see the Rock and Roll McDonalds before it was destroyed. Sad... but I will always have the memories of THE place to rock.

[@JohnPaul-gh1fh]

There used to be one in the Milwaukee area too.. They featured classic car shows every Wednesday. Just like this place, 10 years ago, it was destroyed and replaced with a typical "McCafe" styled McDonalds, a corporate decision.. to turn everything snobby.. because the new CEOs look down their noses at Great Americana stuff..

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I worked a few blocks away from the original in the summer of 1990. I ate there often & wish they wouldn’t have torn it down.

[@stringlarson1247]

I worked near there on a couple of occasions. The smell was just horrible. As the place got bigger and more garrish, so did the customers. Fascinating on so many levels. Thanks. Edit: I lived with Wes for several years. Everyday was a WW live show. So many stories/memories.

[@1208bug]

Thanks Brian!

[@kurtburkhardt5862]

As a Chicago metro area resident, don't live in the city any more. I visited the R&R McDonalds a few times. It was pretty cool, but mostly the same greasy processed food. As a tourist trap and a flagship store it was a sucess. There are so many great, local fast food restaurants in that area, I mainly went when out of town friends wanted to go. The new place is so plain and sterile, now there is even less reason to go there.

[@mjb3798]

I’m from the Chicago area & still live here. I wish it were still open. I used to go when I was a kid.

[@benbaker2965]

These was such a great place to visit because it was an icon, it was unique. It was a destination. All rhe things mentioned in the vudeo abd the song. The corporate folks in Oak Brook had peas for brains. So set on rebranding it self they lost their souls along the way. History, heritage and nostalgia were abandoned. The Des Plaines McDonald's, store # 1 was also iconic . In the early 2000s I was often called upon to entertain colleagues who came in to Chicago from our worlwide offices. The top requests were the Sears Tower and Rock n Roll McDonald's.

[@Mallaien]

Around the corner was the Excalibur nightclub, big in the 80's and 90's. I heard Acid house music for the first time at the Dome Room, which was part of Excalibur. I remember going to that McDonald's a few times before the remodel. Ed Debevic's was in the same area.

[@titusmoody5616]

Wesley Willis, "Rock and Roll MacDonald's"song when you hear it can't help but sing the hook 😊, use to see him at a bar on Lincoln avenue, my friends and I would hang out at, forgot the name

[@johnjanes5434]

My grandfather did all the pinstripes on the cars they had. Good ol peggy sue.

[@smaslan9601]

I remember this growing up in Chicagoland south burbs many school trips there after the museums. Damn commercialism

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

they serve big macs, the serve quarter pounders, they will put pounds on you -Wesley Willis

[@garysprandel1817]

Went with some friends to the first generation R&R McDonald's though it wasn't a specific trip more just driving around as a couple of guys in their 20s would do and stopped for some dinner. The "first" McDonald's was actually torn down not for the corporate change but mainly due to the the fact the Desplaines river is just to the east of the location and multiple flood events over the previous years had reached a point where McDonald's permanently closed the gates to the museum due to health concerns ( mold and structural issues) and finally demolished it. On a side note my grandfather was the general contractor on that first McDonald's and is represented in his trademark suit and hat on the job site in the movie The Founder but some Hollywood liberties were taken as grandpa never owned a pick up.

[@CubeAtlantic]

Never even knew this existed this actually looks kinda dope & interesting.

[@MaartenZuidland]

Not being from the US, I didn’t know this was a thing. I grew up near a McDonalds here in the Netherlands that is still known for being a rock and roll McDonald’s… a town called Best has a McDonald’s still in a decor that really looks a lot like the original incarnation… (and even being modernized several times over the past…)

[@michaelhagemann5999]

Back in 1991 I was doing some Chicago skyline photography work, I talked with the manager of the Rock n' Roll McDonald's at that time and they were looking at plans to put up a new McDonald's sign just like the one in Las Vegas with flashing lights to compete with the Hard Rock Café electric light sign across Clark street, they never went through with it.

[@BDUBZ49]

I went to the original one once, not long after high school. I thought it was kinda lame, unless you like paying like 30% more for the same McDonalds food. Haha rebuilt for capacity of over 300, with parking for 60- yep! Welcome to Chicago.

[@alexlorenz4103]

I used to go to the Rock & Roll McDonald's when I was in Junior High. I was in band and we would go on field trips to The Symphony Center. After we would see a performance at the Symphony Center, we would go to the McDonald's for lunch.

[@JasonBoth1]

I used to go to this McDonald's as a kid, it is sad the classic location is no longer a place I would take my kids to, to share my memories with them

[@ronrice2249]

In the late 50s we lived in Chicago. My dad worked for Reynolds Aluminum during the day, and in the evening he worked part time at the very first McDonald's in the Chicago area. I loved those real golden arches. They weren't just painted on a sign. I don't care about the rock & roll theme. I like the nostalgia of the first one.

[@fahgedaboudit]

I loved that Rock and Roll McDonald's. When they tore it down, I was sick. Stupidest thing they ever did.

[@Shellsocool]

SO TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SETROC316]

Chicago here, That mcdonalds in its last years as rock n roll was a beacon for problems downtown.

[@jesseaharris]

I remember going to a lot of 50s/rock n roll themed McDonald’s and burger kings on road trips when I was a kid, with jukeboxes, lots of chrome, Wurlitzer bubble tubes throughout, records on the walls, car shaped booths etc. don’t really see them much anymore

[@SirEattonHogg]

Grew up in SE Wisconsin and had a few high school trips to downtown Chicago (including one where I played hooky from school with a buddy sort of like Ferris Bueller and took the MIlwaukee Chicago train). The Rock N Roll McDonalds was like a significant point on the route to grab a bite or a designated mutual meet up place if lost (this was long before cell phones). Haven't thought of this place since then....

[@user-is6de8pp7k]

I spent many fun times there with my son. We both loved it. 🤗

[@GrognardPiper]

I remember going to Rock and Roll McDonalds in the 90’s on school field trips from the suburbs. There was another one at Oakbrook Mall that is now long gone too.

[@jasondienethal8581]

Store 32, Des Plaines is Actually still there. It was renovated over the years. The museum building was actually a replica that kept gliding and suffered from low attendance over the years. The Volo museum tried to buy it and move it up to the museum, but sadly it didn't happen.

[@mostmost1]

We had rock & roll McDonald's, Sports McDonald's on state st near Jackson and a few other non official themed McDonald's. The 70s-90s downtown Chicago was something else. There was alot of Bears , Bulls , Sox, Cubs and Blackhawks posters on state st. Two floors and worn down by the 90s.

[@sweshrung]

Thanks for referencing Willis. We miss him

[@cubzrulz]

I remember seeing the building for the first time in 2016 and told myself I need to come here one day with someone and sad to know that it no longer exists. I went to a retro McDonald's once near Green Bay, WI and loved it there I definitely would've loved it here.

[@Not_You_2]

So it was the busiest, largest and the highest money making McDonalds and they got rid of it to replace it with pretty much a cookie cutter? Wonder who the genius was behind that move.

[@sunlitegodis]

After prom, my cousin and I ended up at the original Rock and Roll McDonald’s in 1999 after we lost our friends when we were supposed to meet up at Cheesecake Factory. We actually made it to the John Hancock building, but our friends got lost. Since my cousin didn’t want to spend a lot of money, we ended up eating at MickeyD’s. I was pissed at the time, but it was very memorable. Especially since this the newer 2004 building went up just a few years later.

[@aegisofhonor]

so they replaced one of the coolest places to eat in Chicago with a bland reminder of normalcy; very unfortunate.