The First McDonald’s Location in Jackson, Michigan
We all have our memories of the Jackson McDonald’s.
Back in the late 1960s, a couple of high school buddies and I would travel into town and hit the McDonald’s on West Avenue. We each ordered EVERYTHING on the menu.....A PIECE.....and eat it all. At the time, the only menu items were: hamburger, cheeseburger, double hamburger, double cheeseburger, big mac, fish sandwich, fries, and a variety of drinks and shakes. And get change back from our two bucks.
As far as the first one to hit Jackson, it was in July 1959 when the city’s first McDonald’s opened at 407 W. Prospect Street, with 15-cent hamburgers.
The owners were Bill and Vi Sigmund from Illinois, who opened a second one at 910 N. West Avenue in 1962. Seven years later, they opened a third at 2900 E. Michigan Avenue in October 1969.
After opening more McDonald’s in Adrian and Albion, another Jackson McDonald’s popped up in 1976 at 2601 Airport Road. After one more McDonald’s opening in Tecumseh, that was it for the Sigmunds.
The opening of the Airport Road store in 1976 landed the Sigmunds the title of having the largest number of singly owned McDonald's restaurants in Michigan. But they didn't stop there. In 1977, the Sigmunds' final McDonald's - their eighth - opened in Tecumseh.
According to MLive, by 1979, McDonald's was the largest employer of young persons in the Jackson area.
The location at 910 N. West Avenue moved in 1981 to 1105 N. West Avenue.
By the way, that very first Jackson McDonald’s on Prospect is still going strong. It wouldn’t hurt to make a trek over there and order a bagful, now would it?
First McDonald's in Jackson, Michigan
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