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ProfessorGAC

(77,165 posts)

44. We Went To 2

Wed May 6, 2026, 06:05 PM

Wednesday

One was Burger Chef, which was a small chain in the south & southwest suburbs of Chicago.
The other was a place called The Cuckoo Clock.
The building actually had a big clock on the front & the little door opened and a bird came out on the hour.
My dad knew the guy who originally owned it. That guy brought the first McDonald's to our city of 65,000, and signed an exclusivity deal with McD's corporate.
He got right of first refusal on any new location within 25 miles.
Ended up with 15 or 16 McDonald stores, and got a royalty from 5 or 6 others.
Started out in a little walk up burger joint, became a multimillionaire by around 1975!

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debm55

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When you were a child or teen, what fast food place did you like to go to? I honestly did not go as my parents did not [View all] debm55 Wednesday OP

We rarely had fast food LogDog75 Wednesday #1

Thank you very much, LogDog75. Same here. debm55 Wednesday #2

But they were on their second cow! Enter stage left Wednesday #16

Occasionally McDonald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken. LisaM Wednesday #3

That sounds very nice. Thank you for sharing with us, LisaM debm55 Wednesday #5

We didn't have any fast food places in the town where I grew up. rsdsharp Wednesday #4

Thank you very much for sharing with us, rsdsharp debm55 Wednesday #6

We never ate fast food but this was 60+ years ago Ritabert Wednesday #7

Thank you, Ritabert. debm55 Wednesday #9

McDonald's was my family's regular Sunday afternoon treat when I was a kid. Eugene Wednesday #8

Thank you very much, Eugene. My husband is from Boston. debm55 Wednesday #11

Big Boy was the closest thing to "fast food" we had as kids. malthaussen Wednesday #10

I understand, We had Eat n Park. debm55 Wednesday #12

My father would not eat fast food, he considered all fried food unhealthy. Diamond_Dog Wednesday #13

After a day at the beach, my parents would take us to A&W for a frosted glass of root beer as a treat Deuxcents Wednesday #14

My family never bought fast food . The first time I had it was with a friend and his family at some drive through. Endlessmike56 Wednesday #15

My folks loved Burger King Freddie Wednesday #17

As a family, we occasionally went to a waiterless and orderless place jgo Wednesday #18

We travelled by bus and at the hub we ate little White Castle burgers. Zackzzzz Wednesday #19

There was no such thing as fast food when I was a kid. Yes, I am old. CTyankee Wednesday #20

There weren't really any fast food places when I was a kid (I'm 71) Nittersing Wednesday #21

Our village was less than 500 people, TBF Wednesday #22

1 of the 1st mcdonalds was just down the street from me. mopinko Wednesday #23

Burger King. Not the chain one. This was a locally owned and operated joint that pre-dated the chain. Midnight Writer Wednesday #24

"Big Hat" JoseBalow Wednesday #25

McDonalds, but very rarely happybird Wednesday #26

Burger Chef The Madcap Wednesday #27

We used to like to go to Geno's Walleye Wednesday #28

Mr. Quick Maninacan Wednesday #29

A&W drive-in. 60's cars, girls in shorts take your order. Living Large! IA8IT Wednesday #30

McDonalds for breakfast on Saturday mornings JT45242 Wednesday #31

Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips Bluestocking Wednesday #32

McDonalds PJMcK Wednesday #33

Thursday On Shopping Night Coolgoober Wednesday #34

white castle was a treat.... Fresh_Start Wednesday #35

I have never been to a White Castle Bluestocking Wednesday #40

Thanks, Bluestocking, for sharing. The only place I saw one was in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. debm55 Wednesday #45

Thank you very much for sharing with us. I never had a white castle burger. debm55 Wednesday #47

My parents only liked Long John Silver's and KFC. johnp3907 Wednesday #36

Thank you very much, john3907. I liked the hush puppies at LJS. debm55 Wednesday #46

Del Taco in Nebraska. OLDMDDEM Wednesday #37

Thank you very much, OLDMDDEM. for sharing with us. debm55 Wednesday #43

As a family, we would sometimes go to Hardee's ... surrealAmerican Wednesday #38

Thank you very much for sharing with us. surrealAmerican. Sounds good. debm55 Wednesday #42

There weren't any excep a couple ice cream stores that had hot dogs, hamburgers and doc03 Wednesday #39

Thank you very much for sharing, doc03. I will have to look that up about Eat & Park being Big Boy's. I really don't debm55 Wednesday #41

We Went To 2 ProfessorGAC Wednesday #44

Wow. Great post. I like the sound of The Cuckoo Clock place. It would be neat for kids to eat there. debm55 Wednesday #48

Building Is Gone Now ProfessorGAC Wednesday #49

Been eating Big Mac's and Fries since I was ten. JMCKUSICK Wednesday #50

White Castle and KFC were the bomb in the 60s LuvLoogie Wednesday #51

The only "fast food" we had was a burger or hot dog or milk shake at the LoisB Wednesday #52

Hot Shoppe Drive-in Philadelphia dhol82 Wednesday #53

I have a couple. moniss Wednesday #54

Gino's or Roy Rogers on Sundays and Shakey's when woodsprite Wednesday #55

Local hot dog & Italian beef stand in a small trailer. NoMoreRepugs Wednesday #56

A and W Restaurants (mostly for the rootbeer floats). waterwatcher123 Wednesday #57

Two places MackinacBridge Wednesday #58

So, in my home town there was what was originally a 'Dairy King'. OldBaldy1701E Wednesday #59