A Missouri McDonald’s known for being the largest in the country when it opened in the mid-1970s, has been demolished.
The Springfield store located at 1607 East Battlefield Road was destroyed on Thursday and all of the debris was placed in trash receptacles.
A new McDonald’s will be built and is scheduled to open by August, according to a billboard at the location.
The Springfield store located at 1607 East Battlefield Road was destroyed on Thursday (the store before demolition)
All of the debris was placed in trash receptacles on Thursday
The store was called the ‘Taj Mahal of McDonald’s’ by company executive Ray Kroc when it opened in 1976, News-Leader reports.
He is said to have liked the store so much, that he built five more that resembled it, according to KY3.com .
In 1977 the store was given the national decor award in the ‘best new store’ category.
The eatery’s theme was old farmhouse and could fit approximately 225 people.
The store was called the ‘Taj Mahal of McDonald’s’ by company executive Ray Kroc when it opened in 1976
The eatery’s theme was old farmhouse and could fit approximately 225 people
It consisted of four dining rooms, a fountain and a large planter. Three of the rooms even were stocked with their own fireplaces.
‘The newest McDonald’s is a first in many respects,’ an article found in the News-Leader archives reads.
‘A French country atmosphere and the latest in equipment have been maintained.’
Debris can be seen all out on the parking lot where the McDonald’s once stood. Kroc built five more stores based off this location
A new McDonald’s will be built and is scheduled to open by August, according to a billboard at the location
Each dining room has its own theme as well.
The ‘kitchen’ room has a wooden floor, a fireplace wall stacked with trinkets, a copper chestnut warmer, French milk can, a wooden bread paddle and a 10-ft oak table accessorized with stylized chairs.
The ‘public room’ is styled after the 18th century and features a walkway to the ‘kitchen room’ adorned by stained glass windows.
Pewter mugs, a pewter-handled pistol with a powder horn and a medieval water clock all sit on top of the fireplace in this second room.
The eatery consisted of four dining rooms, a fountain and a large planter. Three of the rooms even were stocked with their own fireplaces
Inside, each dining room had its own theme as well
Inside the ‘library’ was a carpeted area bordered by a leaded glass railing and another fireplace all in a circle.
Cottage curtains adorn the room and books are also laid out on the bay window.
Visitors were able to look out at the stream that flowed underneath the resturaunt and a small curved bridge that leads to a lily pond.
There was also a ‘garden room’ where water falls fell from a brick and copper fountain.
The real life Taj Mahal looks a little different than the McDonald’s
‘The newest McDonald’s is a first in many respects,’ an article found in the News-Leader archives reads