Though many communities can say they have one or more McDonald’s restaurants, Des Plaines is the only town that can claim it’s the home of the original McDonald’s, built in 1955.
You may not be able to order a burger and fries at the McDonald’s Original Restaurant and Museum at 400 Lee St.-you’ll have to stop in at the working McDonald’s across the street to place your order-but you’ll see the original McDonald’s sign and other memorabilia reminiscent of the first McDonald’s fast food restaurant.
Des Plaines was founded in 1857 as the town of Rand, named after Socrates Rand, one of the earliest settlers; the name was changed to Des Plaines in 1869. Des Plaines has a population of more than 55,000 and a variety of diversified industrial, retail and commercial establishments.
The village is just north of O’Hare International Airport and sits between two tollways-Interstate Highways 90 and 294. It covers an area of 15.5 square miles. Nearby communities include Niles, Mt. Prospect and Park Ridge.
“Des Plaines is in an ideal location” says Jack Klaus, executive director of the Des Plaines Economic Development Commission. It’s close to air transportation and the expressways and is very convenient for both residents and businesses.
Because Des Plaines is an older community, the village’s housing stock is older, too. The median value of homes ranges from $145,000 to $155,000, though some homes run as high as $400,000. Renting a two-bedroom, one-bath home at Oakton and Lee Streets will cost around $900 a month.
Des Plaines does not have a large number of rental residential properties, and those that do exist are located in the western section of town. Most are multi-unit, older buildings, as opposed to two- or three-flat dwellings. A one-bedroom apartment at 1348 Brown St. in downtown Des Plaines will range from $450 to $475, while a one-bedroom apartment located in the Ballard Point apartment complex on Knight Street near the Golf Mill Shopping Center will run $519 to $600. The Heritage of Des Plaines, a $20-million, 10-story rental apartment complex for senior citizens, is being built in downtown Des Plaines, and is scheduled for completion in the fall.
Metra’s Chicago & North Western rail service can take residents to the Loop. PACE Northwestern Division serves bus riders in Des Plaines and nearby communities, as does the Community Cab Co., which offers 24-hour service.
When it comes to shopping, like in many communities, Des Plaines’ vacant storefronts reflect the economic times; nonetheless, there are a number of longstanding retail establishments in the downtown area. These include Kinder Industrial Supply on Ellinwood Street, the oldest business in town; Brown’s Department Store, which sells infant’s and women’s clothing and just celebrated its 95th anniversary; and Svoboda’s Men’s Wear and R.C. Wahl Jewelers, also located in the downtown area. The enclosed Des Plaines Mall at the corner of Lee and Prairie Streets contains more than 25 stores in an atrium setting.
There are three Jewel supermarkets, one Dominick’s and one Butera in Des Plaines.
For recreation, the Des Plaines Park District offers a wide array of leisure activities, including a 73-acre park with a lake for fishing and sailing; a 13-hole, par three golf course; a fully equipped health club; and a 37-foot-high, two-flumed waterslide. The Des Plaines Theatre Guild is a well-known cultural institution, and the Des Plaines Theatre downtown charges $1.50 general admission, except on Tuesdays when all seats are 50 cents.
In addition to the five McDonald’s restaurants and other fast food emporiums, there are a number of dining establishments in the village and surrounding area. Minutes away from O’Hare, in nearby Rosemont, the O’Hare Westin Hotel and the Sheraton International offer a number of dining choices to Des Plaines residents and business travelers, as do Morton’s of Chicago, Nick’s Fishmarket and Carlucci restaurant. Within Des Plaines, diners can sample a sandwich, soda and some homemade candies at the well-known Sugar Bowl Sweet Shop on Miner Street; eat a steak at Knicker’s, a roaring ’20s steakhouse on Oakton Street that features singing waiters; and enjoy an intimate dinner for two under sparkling chandeliers at Cafe La Cave on Mannheim Road.
