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Events on Friday 15 April 1955 1
1955First McDonald's franchise opensRay Kroc opens a franchised restaurant in Des Plaines, IllinoisBusinessman Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald's franchise location in Des Plaines, Illinois, after partnering with the McDonald brothers. Kroc later bought out the brothers and built the chain into a global fast-food empire. The Des Plaines store became the template for McDonald's rapid international expansion.