If you drove by McDonald’s on east Cypress Avenue on Sunday, all looked normal. What you didn’t see were the plans in place to start the “rebuild of McDonald’s.” Early Monday morning, the old, established first McDonald’s in Redding came tumbling down. An era came to an end, and another, newer fast-food restaurant will rise like a phoenix in its place. Those of us who were here when the first McDonald’s in Redding opened experienced some nostalgia that will not be easily forgotten.
It started in the early 1970s, when Cypress Avenue east of I-5 had a few small real estate offices, a church, a bike shop, a bank (Wells Fargo) and a other small establishments. East Cypress was almost rural when Dave McGeorge decided to be a pioneer and open a new fast-food hamburger restaurant — a franchise chain known as McDonald’s. It was the first one on I-5 from Sacramento north. We locals were thrilled, and it rapidly became the place for the kids to go each Friday night. What a place it was, with fast hamburgers, French fries and a shake in just a couple of minutes. And it matched a young couple’s budget. You could feed a family of six for five bucks. Such a deal.
Over the years, the rush was on to join the excitement of the newly discovered East Cypress area near McDonald’s. Wendy’s came on the scene, as did Burger King and others because this area was next to a big shopping place known as the K-Mart Center. Hilltop Drive was growing, and Mt. Shasta Mall opened, but Cypress with McDonald’s was the place to go.
McDonald’s offered more than just good fast food. It offered jobs for teens who needed that part-time job. In fact, our current city manager, Kurt Starman, was an employee. This was a good job for a student. Many in Redding today can claim McDonald’s as one of their employers, and it was a good place to work for good folks, Dave McGeorge.
Change is inevitable, and McDonald’s is no exception. The old store was showing its age, and Dave decided it was a better business decision to demolish the old and build a new store. I’m now eager to see the new building. It will be the latest in design, functionality and service. As it was in the 1970s, it will rapidly become a new landmark in Redding. Congratulations and thanks, Dave, for what you have done for Redding over the years, and for what you are going to do now for the next generation. Rest assured, you will still hear at area schools, “See you at McDonald’s.”
Ron Largent is a Realtor, business owner and longtime Redding resident. He can be reached at ronlargent@yahoo.com or ronlargent.yourkwagent.com.
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