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Most would probably argue that McDonald's, the iconic American fast-food chain, is known for its menu, and not its decor. But Katrinka from Baltimore, Maryland, recently tweeted a few pics of a restaurant in Freeport, Maine, that has become popular because of the opposite.
"It looks like a funeral home outside and a retirement home inside," the Twitter user wrote. Her tweet instantly went viral and people started responding to it with other weird McDonald's locations. From a decommissioned airplane to an old bank building, or to even no-longer-existing but nevertheless fascinating constructions, it would definitely be interesting to order a burger in one of these joints!
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#1
WilvanderHeijden 5 years ago
Don't get why the authorities allowed the defacing of that historic building with that hideous sign.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
Wow. I absolutely hate McDonald's, but I would go in here just to take a look.
The McDonald's that got Katrinka's attention actually has a pretty nice story behind it. When the fast-food chain was looking to expand to the town of Freeport, they ran into a problem: the Freeport building design restrictions were strict, and the authorities wanted the fast-food giant to maintain the area's aesthetic. To put it simply: no golden arches.
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#2
MAnahP 5 years ago
My home town. I remember it opening. I still like to eat in the plane pretending to be a little kid.
kitty.boom 5 years ago
Cool, that would be a great experience for all ages.
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Grace Smith 5 years ago
We repainted it so now it looks even better. Super happy to see New Zealand on this list 🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿🇳🇿
So, McDonald's chose the Gore House that was built by a wealthy local merchant, William Gore, around 1850. At first, the town couldn't decide whether to allow this, but ultimately gave the go-ahead, and it opened in December of 1984. The restaurant retained its style, which the Freeport Historical Society describes as "a mix of Greek Revival and Italianate architecture."
One could walk in and think that this was just another local posh tavern similar to the one across the street. But this restaurant doesn't offer fine steak and craft beer; only Big Macs and Coca-Cola.
#3
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
Freeport, Maine, USA, in case anyone else doesn't live in the neighborhood and was wondering.
kitty.boom 5 years ago
I think this ones made for our grandparents. It looks so solemn inside where you can dine peacefully. No busy crowd of a regular fastfood.
Sarah 5 years ago
Yes! Sort of... they can't talk back to you, so you just have to watch on the screen to make sure the order is correct!
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#4
kitty.boom 5 years ago
They got nice lightings inside. Who would have thought McDonald would have chandelier?
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
It looks like it might have been a library or museum previously.
#5
kitty.boom 5 years ago
It looks like those paper town cardboard toys. Where you have to fold and assemble it.
#6
Rabbit Carrot 5 years ago
This no longer exists. It was torn down in 2008. It was in Alconbury.
Young Minami Kotaro 5 years ago
all customers who come for the first time will definitely say "Wowww.."
Fireflower 5 years ago
The aliens were trying to blend in to human society
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#7
Erin 5 years ago
One of my favorite childhood memories...St. Louis Weekends! We would see the Cardinals play a game or two, visit the zoo, and eat on the McDonald's Riverboat.
Toast Of Saint Louis 5 years ago
I've never been on the McDonald's boat or the Arch. I've been living in Saint Louis all my life.
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Randy Klefbeck 5 years ago
I was told once that in the south (don't remember the town or state) there were McD's that had their hostesses serve in the dining area dressed in hoop skirts like proper southern belles.
Martha Higgins 5 years ago
McDonald's should be more creative in their designs and make more "destination" restaurants rather than the tacky stuff they usually erect.
Monica A. M. 5 years ago
Went many times as a teen, lived not far from STL. Sad it's gone. Remember BK was on the other river boat?
Katie and Jared Coates 5 years ago
It reminds me of the game that was Red Dead before Red Dead- Gun :P
#8
Ninja Kitty 5 years ago
oh yeeaaahhh!! my cousin lives right by it! she took me there one time and we went inside, and it is very....[no word found]
Katie and Jared Coates 5 years ago
Whimsical? Kimagure? Splendiferous? Cycloptian?
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Bored Person 5 years ago (edited)
I live in Dallas and because that McDonalds is next to the zoo we go there every time. But unfortenatly they just tore it down.
Beth Burke 5 years ago
This is actually the one at LBJ & Montfort - it too was modified a few years ago. The Zoo McDonalds had animals on/around it.
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Lucas Gonzalez 1 year ago
Sadly this place closed down and is now the world's largest mcdonalds I think
#9
*sigh*, The Yellow Teletubby 5 years ago
hehehe, McDonald's is a train restaurant... Like 'chain' restaurant, but 'train'... hehe
Andrea Anthony 5 years ago (edited)
I've been there! I was wondering if it would make the list.
Robert Kahr 5 years ago
The manager there once told me this is the busiest McDonalds because Barstow is midway on the I-15 drive between L.A. and L.V. By the time you get there you’re ready for a break, I always was and it was always very busy.
#10
Samantha Quinlan 5 years ago
Sedona required McDonalds to have the turquoise colored arches as not to clash with the beautiful red rock.
#11
Martha Higgins 5 years ago
Gramado was settled by Azoreans/Portugese, Germans, and Italians and is a tourist town in the mountains of Brasil/Brazil. It has a lot of European architecture.
#12
kitty.boom 5 years ago
Don't judge a book by its cover. I like the interior, it's not like you are eating inside a fastfood.
Noel Steinle 5 years ago
I spent a lot of my grad program eating ice cream there. You aren’t even getting to see the blue tile fountain in the center!
Kristina Thomas 5 years ago
It reminds me of a hipster swapmeet I saw in Costa Mesa, California.
#13
Martha Higgins 5 years ago
Some countries appreciate their history and architecture, thank goodness!
Vaida Kuodytė 5 years ago (edited)
I don't reckon it's ALL McD... We have a McD in one of our oldtown buildings, but it only occupies a part of the ground floor, and looks like a normal McD inside.
Xavier van varenberg 5 years ago
Usualy people can sit on 1st floor as well in dining places like this in Belgium. Or the upper floors are to stock / personal space / rented out for people to live in. Also, Bruges is authentic like that. You are not allowed to change anything on the outside. And if you do renovations. It has to be restored in the same style as it was.
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#14
Jef Bateman 5 years ago
True, that would be cool. It used to be a regular restaurant called "The Glass House." I went to that restaurant once as a kid.
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Lucas Young 5 years ago
They remodeled this one to get rid of the golden arch. Doesn't even look like a McDonalds anymore.
Fireflower 5 years ago
There's one like this somewhere in Illinois, but it's not just McD's. It's fun to sit right above the highway and pretend to jump over the oncoming cars
Thenatural 5 years ago
Got these in almost every motorway services in uk...nothing special here
#15
KATELYN NGUYEN 5 years ago
I am in Houston,Texas and their is a McDonalds that looks like a post office
Ian Webling 5 years ago
When I was in Bergen the sign was inside, visible only through a window.
#16
Ivana Junas 5 years ago
The villa of Chiang Ching-kuo, son of Chiang Kai-shek, for a period of about a month.
Spinaap 5 years ago
Oh, really not only Americans, a European here. We went to a macdonald in China for two reasons: 1) food we could recognize (or so we like to think), instead of bits of things in a sauce and 2) F1 was on the tv, no need for translation on that. Was easy to order and the people were really friendly (it was in a small city of 40 milj. where we hadn't seen any foreigners all day).
Julie Lloyd 5 years ago
My Brother teaches English at a University there. Thanks for sending this I will show him.
#17
Molly Cule 5 years ago
The picture on the left is in it's own little cave at the foot of the stairs. It was pretty cramped but it was the most popular table.
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Mel Steele 5 years ago
In shelthorpe, the pub changed to McDonald's not long after Wm Lowe became Tesco
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Taras O 5 years ago
This is from Vancouver, BC. They had it for the 86 Expo and now it's abandoned.
#23
Dippin Dot 5 years ago
There's one that looks like this in Oshkosh, WI, and I know of a few others around the MN/WI/IL part of the midwest.
Caleb Smith 5 years ago
They "renovated" the oshkosh one a couple years ago and now it looks like s**t. Little Chute still has a cool historic one though
Load More Replies... Lucas Gonzalez 1 year ago
Rock and Roll McDonald's Rock and Roll McDonald's Rock and Roll McDonald's Rock and Roll McDonald's when you're hungry and you need something cheap come on down there's a McDonald's down the street so many good options like the quarter pounder and the Big Mac and even if you're only a little hungry you can have some fries as a snack Rock and Roll McDonald's Rock and Roll McDonald's Rock and Roll McDonald's Rock and Roll McDonald's that's the end of the song
Aunt Messy 5 years ago
And it's been closed many times because that's where the local drug dealers and pimps hang out. DO NOT go to this one.
kitty.boom 5 years ago
That's sad. It would have been like a cool McDonald's with the memorabilia stuff.
Load More Replies... Lucas Young 5 years ago
They tore this one down, along with most that don't fit their new template
Shelley Claire 5 years ago
As someone who lived there, no it isn't always shut down because of "drug dealers and pimps". It's in the tourist section of Chicago, one of the most heavily policed areas of the city. It's always shut down because they are always doing work on it.
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#26
Cori 5 years ago
This one is kinda sad. I'm glad they saved it, but I feel like that grand old house deserved better.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
Agreed. All of the really old buildings turned into McDonald's seems like such a waste.
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#27
Mary Ridings Guarino 5 years ago
I was going to add this one if it wasn't already on the list. Everything is fancier around the Biltmore estate
Daniel Nilssen 5 years ago
I've been there at first glance you have to do a double take to make sure you're not seeing things
Patrick McKemie 5 years ago
It's Biltmore , and it's part of Biltmore Village, near historic Biltmore Estates (see a theme here?) Asheville, NC is a really awesome place to visit.
#28
Brandi Alcock-Allen 5 years ago
Eh, Orlando is the theme park capital of the world. This fits in there just fine. :)
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Pollyanna Hartwell Robelen 5 years ago
Yes! I remember it from back in 2000. Much classier back then. Especially with the Marriott across the street.
#29
Randy Klefbeck 5 years ago
Nobody posted the one in Leavenworth WA U.S. All the architecture in that town has to be Bavarian German themed. Even the Safeway grocery store is a Garmisch like structure. There should be a post of that town at Christmas if anyone is interested.
#30
Jessica Brand 5 years ago
Oh my God! I made myself so sick eating there! Hadn't eaten anything but DFAC food for 8 months and went overboard. But it was SOOOOO worth it on my way back for R&R.
Jessica Brand 5 years ago
I forgot to write that this is at the Ali As Salem airbase in Kuwait.
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kitty.boom 5 years ago
Where in the middle east is this? That's some laid back McDonald outlet.
#32
#33
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
And now it's a McDonald's. A sad waste of a beautiful building.
Dorothy Parker 5 years ago
Look at it this way, it's going to be maintained and is accessible for anyone to visit and admire.
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#41
Gina Foxley 5 years ago
Unfortunately this McDonalds was torn down several years ago and replaced with an ugly standard looking McDonalds.
#42
David Wiles 5 years ago (edited)
The Target Roundabout, Northolt, England. The building used to be The Target Public House. That door is not the entrance, you have to go to the car park behind the building to get in.
#44
LittleMissLotus 5 years ago
I've been here on vacation before- every business in town has this type of architecture lol
Carol Emory 5 years ago
The whole village of Leavenworth is done in Bavarian style. I lived near this location for nearly 15 years. If you ever have a chance to visit, please do so. They are also less than 30 minutes away from the Applets and Cotlets Factory near Wenatchee. There is white water rafting and hiking/camping in the summer and downhill/cross country skiing in the winter. And Christmas makes you feel like a kid at Santa's Toy Shop at the North Pole with horse drawn sleigh rides down main street. A must see if you are in WA.
Katrina B. 5 years ago
This is done is compliance with local building specifications. The town mayor in the 1980s wanted more tourists so he made very building change into look like German/Swiss buildings. Even the Safeway (grocery store) looks like this. But up until then places looked "normal".
#45
#46
Tiggy Darling 5 years ago
Was wondering if anybody would post this one. I ate there earlier this year.
#47
Lyone Fein 5 years ago
That is a beautiful example of 20th century American style. Great photo.
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#50
logical fallacy 5 years ago
Please tell me the building still stands and is taken care of.
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#52
CaptainDinosaur 5 years ago
I might make the trip up 40 for a peek at this place once this bastard covid chills out.
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#56
Erin 5 years ago
It is from the movie "Coming to America" starring Eddie Murphy.
Load More Replies... Dippin Dot 5 years ago
It's from the movie "Coming to America" - not a real place.
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#58
Christopher Columbus 5 years ago
Rebellious posting a building of the competition. As a Belgian I'm laughing so hard. I think it's supposed to be McDonalds only.
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#64
Sarah Levine 5 years ago
I've driven by this a few times. I always wonder if there's a really big McDonald's Playland in it.
Jean H. 5 years ago
No playland inside but LOTS of criminals. It's in crappy neighborhood
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Howie Berry 5 years ago
That's not Elstree, it's in Borehamwood. It's opposite Elstree Film Studios, and many many famous film stars used to drink there when it was the Red Lion Pub including Errol Flynn.
#66
Flor Arleo 5 years ago
It's how Brazilians pronounce "Mc", instead of McDonald's you will hear "Méqui Donalds" so they changed the name to Méqui and 1000 because this particular one is the restaurant #1000 :)
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#68
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
*small child approaches the counter "Please sir, may I have some more dipping sauce?"
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Add New Image
What do you think ?
Bmo 5 years ago
I visited one in Taiwan that was so small they only had the counter and fountain drink machine on the main level. The kitchen was above it and everything was sent down on this conveyor belt system that they hooked the bags to. You could fit maybe 3 customers inside including the 1 worker at the counter.
kitty.boom 5 years ago
I love how some of the interiors are very interesting and classy looking for a fast-food chain. The outside and inside are not disappointing.
Bruce Mills 5 years ago
One near me only has one arch. 58d8a9a7b3...065htm.jpg 
mcdonalds-...78b941.jpg 
Sarah Brinsfield 5 years ago
The McDonald's, up by the Polynesian Cultural Center, on 'Oahu, Hawai'i, is beautiful!
Treessimontrees 5 years ago
The Antigua, Guatemala one is awesome - https://www.google.com/search?q=antigua+mcdonalds&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS821US821&sxsrf=ALeKk035d43F7Pi0BKKZ4BKFuwsUmvfsrg:1589211613124&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjd-7DNkqzpAhUFoZ4KHWa6Dx0Q_AUoAXoECBMQAw&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=rtkf3eU-ihffLM
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
We had a rockin McDonald's in the '90's. It was 50's burger joint. Even had a '50's car in it and a huge fake Elvis and and records hanging down. Juke boxes on the tables and shiny things everywhere you looked. Colors were purple and silver. They had to change it back to match normal McDonald's I heard. But it was called Rockin' McDonald's.
Sandra Simpson 5 years ago
I can't be the only one who checked out Google Maps for every single one. haha Good idea
Bmo 5 years ago
I visited one in Taiwan that was so small they only had the counter and fountain drink machine on the main level. The kitchen was above it and everything was sent down on this conveyor belt system that they hooked the bags to. You could fit maybe 3 customers inside including the 1 worker at the counter.
kitty.boom 5 years ago
I love how some of the interiors are very interesting and classy looking for a fast-food chain. The outside and inside are not disappointing.
Bruce Mills 5 years ago
One near me only has one arch. 58d8a9a7b3...065htm.jpg mcdonalds-...78b941.jpg
Sarah Brinsfield 5 years ago
The McDonald's, up by the Polynesian Cultural Center, on 'Oahu, Hawai'i, is beautiful!
Treessimontrees 5 years ago
The Antigua, Guatemala one is awesome - https://www.google.com/search?q=antigua+mcdonalds&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS821US821&sxsrf=ALeKk035d43F7Pi0BKKZ4BKFuwsUmvfsrg:1589211613124&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjd-7DNkqzpAhUFoZ4KHWa6Dx0Q_AUoAXoECBMQAw&biw=1920&bih=937#imgrc=rtkf3eU-ihffLM
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel 5 years ago
We had a rockin McDonald's in the '90's. It was 50's burger joint. Even had a '50's car in it and a huge fake Elvis and and records hanging down. Juke boxes on the tables and shiny things everywhere you looked. Colors were purple and silver. They had to change it back to match normal McDonald's I heard. But it was called Rockin' McDonald's.
Sandra Simpson 5 years ago
I can't be the only one who checked out Google Maps for every single one. haha Good idea
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