
For the younger generations, it feels like some stores and restaurants have always existed. In the Stone Age, after a long day of hunting mammoths, man would get some breakfast at McDonald’s. But these places had a start, and we were there for it! Here are 24 businesses, many of which are still around, that Baby Boomers saw rise to fame.
#1: The Rise of the Arches
McDonald’s was founded in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald, but the business remained a West Coast obscurity until businessman Roy Kroc turned it into the powerhouse it’s known for today. Kroc was controversial, including allegedly downplaying the McDonald brothers’ contributions, but his tactics worked.

We saw McDonald’s pop up on every street corner. When we turned on the TV, we saw Ronald McDonald for the first time, complete with a paper cup for a nose. Then, we took our kids to get Happy Meals in the ‘70s and ‘80s. All these years later, those golden arches still are a part of America.