A 1955 Ford, left, and a 1955 Oldsmobile are parked in the lot of the McDonald's museum July 14, 2000 in Des Plaines, IL. On this site April 15, 1955 Ray Kroc, founder of the McDonald's franchise, opened his first restaurant. (Tim Boyle/Newsmakers) The price board hangs inside the McDonald's USA First Store Museum April 14, 2005 in Des Plaines, Illinois. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) A Multi-mixer along with milkshake mix and syrup pumps are displayed inside the McDonald's USA First Store Museum April 14, 2005 in Des Plaines, Illinois. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) The walk-up window is seen at the McDonald's USA First Store Museum April 14, 2005 in Des Plaines, Illinois. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) -- McDonald's Corp. has announced it will demolish a suburban Chicago museum that's a replica of the hamburger chain's first restaurant.
Ray Kroc built his first restaurant in 1955 in Des Plaines, after franchising the brand from the original owners, Richard and Maurice McDonald.
The Chicago Tribune reports the store was torn down in 1984. McDonald's Store No. 1 Museum opened the next year, with the original restaurant's sign out front.
In a statement, McDonald's says tourist numbers have declined due to repeated flooding of the site since 2008.
The company says the museum will be razed next month and the land donated to Des Plaines.