Did You Know the First McDonald’s in Maine Opened in Portland 60 Years Ago?

When you think of fast food, somewhere on your list is likely to be McDonald's.

According to the iconic chain restaurant's website, the first official Golden Arches eatery opened in 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois, and by 1965, there were over 700 McDonald's locations.

One of those 700 included Maine's very first McDonald's.

So where exactly was it?

The Portland Public Library Digital Commons has a great photo, originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram in 1970, of the McDonald's, which was at 332 Saint John Street in Portland.

The description for the photo shares that it was a drive-up style location and opened its doors in 1964.

The same description reveals that a South Portland location would open in 1970, a year before the Maine Mall would open.

READ MORE: Do You Remember These 13 Stores That Were Once at the Maine Mall?

There is still a McDonald's on Saint John Street today, but there have been a lot of changes and remodels in the 60 years since the place first opened.

You can see a blurry photo of the location in 2009 thanks to Google Maps:

And you can see what it looks like more recently, as of 2023:

It's still hard to believe that it was only 60 years ago the first McDonald's opened in Maine. And hamburgers were only about 15 cents at that time, according to Business Insider!

On a side note, did you know Maine also boasts one of the most unique versions of the restaurant chain in Freeport? From the outside, it looks almost like a large home.

READ MORE: Five McDonald’s Locations in Maine That Once Had Unique Themes

As of 2024, there are over 60 McDonald's in the state where you can grab a Big Mac, those deliciously salty fries, or whatever your fav fast food order is at the chain restaurant.

Time sure flies.