WI: No McDonald's.

Fast food is still prevalent in US culture, but perhaps that much less so. I expect that without McDonalds, Wendy's and BK would fill in most of whatever vacuum is created by a lack of Mickey D's. Overall, little would actually change.
 
What would a world without Mickey D's look like? What would happen if McDonald's never existed?
Fast food is still prevalent in US culture, but perhaps that much less so. I expect that without McDonalds, Wendy's and BK would fill in most of whatever vacuum is created by a lack of Mickey D's. Overall, little would actually change.
There Burger Chef and Carl Jr...maybe one take the Golden Arch place? no mcdonals means Kroc never got rich...the San Diego Padres might have moved...
 
There Burger Chef and Carl Jr...maybe one take the Golden Arch place? no mcdonals means Kroc never got rich...the San Diego Padres might have moved...

Carl's Jr. gets my vote, if McDonald's hadn't come along I think it would have done quite well. Another possible contender is Kentucky Fried Chicken...
 
Fast food is still prevalent in US culture, but perhaps that much less so. I expect that without McDonalds, Wendy's and BK would fill in most of whatever vacuum is created by a lack of Mickey D's. Overall, little would actually change.

So basically you're saying taking out one chain would just be a drop in an ocean?
 

nbcman

Donor
What would a world without Mickey D's look like? What would happen if McDonald's never existed?
There would still be fast food chain restaurants such as the number 2 fast food chain in the 1970s: Burger Chef. There was a discussion on saving Burger Chef here.

Maybe more Burger Kings, Wendy's, Hardees, White Castles, or who ever else.
 
Agree with Amadeus, the Interstate system meant more people are now traveling around the country. Just like Howard Johnson's there is a niche for a fast food restaurant and something was going to fill it. If not McDonald's then something else but it was going to happen...
 
White Castle, Steak and Shake, and A&W date to the 1920s. Coney Island and Nathan's (as interstate chains) date to the 1930s. Dairy Queen dates to the 1940s. Hardee's, Culver's, Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr. to the 1950s. The only innovations McDonald's added were burgers in multiple sizes and the folding box kid's meal with prepackaged toy.
 

nbcman

Donor
White Castle, Steak and Shake, and A&W date to the 1920s. Coney Island and Nathan's (as interstate chains) date to the 1930s. Dairy Queen dates to the 1940s. Hardee's, Culver's, Jack in the Box and Carl's Jr. to the 1950s. The only innovations McDonald's added were burgers in multiple sizes and the folding box kid's meal with prepackaged toy.

Actually, that was first done by Burger Chef with the Funmeal in 1973 five years before McDonalds. Burger Chef sued McDonalds when they introduced Happy Meals, but they lost the lawsuit.
 
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nbcman

Donor
Why didn't that get a mention in the AHC: Save Burger Chef thread?
It was mentioned in final paragraph of the OP of that thread:

Another way might be to somehow (don't ask me how) have Burger Chef win the Happy Meal lawsuit. Burger Chef was the first major fast food chain to include toys with their kid's meal (dubbed the Fun Meal), and sued McDonald's when they came out with the Happy Meal. Burger Chef lost; perhaps if they had won they might be in a more advantageous position.
 
McDonald's added were burgers in multiple sizes and the folding box kid's meal with prepackaged toy.

A&W had the burger sizes in the late '50s
7958c9cf028ae02b6829c0cf3019768d--aw-restaurants-vintage-restaurant.jpg

and Burger Chef in '73, 5 years ahead of the Clown
burgerchef9.jpg

Ah, Ninja'd on the Fun Meal
 
If this allows more White Castles out west, then McDonalds can go hang. I have to drive six hours to Vegas for my sliders. C'mon!

Just because the Golden Arches doesn't become a juggernaut doesn't mean Kroc failed. He originally attempted to franchise In N Out and Apple Pan. Either could have succeeded. Otherwise Burger Chef takes the title. McDonalds stole so many ideas from them (mascots, Big Mac, Happy Meal, etc) that they were sued.
 
Slightly slower spread and development of fast-food, and somewhat less pressure towards the industrialization of food production. Otherwise not much difference.
 
I'm old enough to vaguely remember A&W, there was one in Monterey CA when we lived there in the late 60's and there was one on Guam in the early 70's but it shut down rather soon after we moved there. Guam boasted the world's largest McDonald's at the time, a HUGE dining area was the only thing that set it apart from your average everyday franchise...
 
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