This McDonald’s Looks Like a Historic Mansion and It Is Beautiful
McDonald’s opened its 12,000th restaurant on April 13, 1991, inside a house built in 1795 that once belonged to one of Long Island’s early founding families. Initial plans called for demolishing the structure. Preservation advocates intervened, and the building was designated a landmark in 1988. McDonald’s then restored the historic property instead of tearing it down, leaving New Hyde Park with one of the most unusual McDonald’s locations in the United States.
A House Built Before Fast Food Existed
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Tdorante10
The building began as a farmhouse in 1795 for Joseph Denton, a descendant of Rev. Richard Denton, one of the founders of Hempstead, New York. In the 1860s, the property changed into a Georgian-style mansion. Over time, it served as a funeral home and later as an independent restaurant before sliding into serious disrepair by the early 1980s.
By 1985, McDonald’s purchased the property with plans to demolish it and construct a typical location. But residents pushed back, as the house was one of the few historic structures left in the area. After three years of pressure and legal battles, the Denton House received official landmark designation in 1988.
The Compromise That Saved It
McDonald’s launched a multimillion-dollar renovation. Crews gutted the deteriorated interior down to the rafters while preserving the exterior. Restoration relied on a 1926 photograph to guide architectural details. In exchange for saving the structure, the company secured approval to add a discreet single-story drive-thru in the back.
The final restaurant opened on April 13, 1991. It became the only McDonald’s in a fully restored historic building.
Inside The “McMansion”
Locals call this location the McMansion, and it’s a nickname that fits. The white exterior has a portico and classic Georgian symmetry, and the Golden Arches sign is understated, so it does not overpower the structure. Inside, a sweeping double staircase commands attention. The two-story layout breaks with standard fast-food design.
A glass-enclosed veranda occupies the former porch. The second floor hosts a dining space that has handled private parties and weekend crowds. When the location first opened, the original franchise owner even floated the idea of tablecloths and battery-operated candles on Friday and Saturday nights to encourage date traffic.
The food remains identical to that of any other McDonald’s. A Newsday critic in 1991 praised the architecture while confirming that the menu tasted the same.
A Landmark That Still Serves Fries
Historic landmark protection limits structural changes, which explains why the mansion still resembles its early 20th-century form. In 2017, modernization upgrades introduced digital menu boards, self-order kiosks, and remodeled counters without altering the core design. Today, Jack Bert operates the restaurant after purchasing it in 2013.