Vintage photos show what it was like to eat at McDonald's in the 1980s

By the 1980s, McDonald's had become a well-established fast-food chain with a recognizable menu and branding. Ray Kroc opened the first franchise location in Des Plaines, Illinois, on April 15, 1955, and that year founded McDonald's System, Inc. By 1958 the chain had sold 100 million burgers and adopted the signature golden arches; by 1989 systemwide sales had reached $17.3 billion and sales outside the US grew from $900 million in 1979 to $5.3 billion in 1989.

The restaurants themselves varied. Architect Stanley Meston's original red-and-white design led to the addition of the golden arches to give the roof more dimension, and a location in Downey, California, remains the oldest still-operating restaurant with that look.

By the 1980s only a few outlets retained the 1950s and 1960s design, while others already sported more modern exteriors—some urban locations looked much like today's, and others occupied historic or eye-catching buildings.

United States, Des Plaines, Illinois; Downey, California

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