I recently drove past a McDonald’s and saw the sign now said “99 billion served” – I wonder how many of those billions were Big Macs? The sandwich turns 40-years-old this week, and is one of the most popular items on the franchises menu. Treat yourself to one today to celebrate!
McDonald’s signature Big Mac sandwich turned 40 years old this week. Debuting Aug. 22, 1967 for just 45¢ at a single restaurant in Uniontown, PA, the burger featuring “two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame-seed bun” now sells in 100 countries and is ordered 550 million times/year in the U.S.
And, as of this week, the Big Mac has a museum to chronicle its history. Set in North Huntingdon, PA, 40 miles north of Uniontown, it’s not easy to miss as it touts the world’s largest (14-ft. x 12-ft.) replica Big Mac, in addition to plenty of Big Mac memorabilia.
The man behind the Big Mac, Jim Delligatti, officially opened the museum on Wednesday where the first 100 visitors received a coupon entitling them to one Big Mac each week for a year. Delligatti was 49 years old when he introduced the double-decker burger after two years of finagling to get it on the menu. After a trial run at several Pennsylvania locations, the Big Mac went national in 1968.
“I just felt our customers would appreciate a big sandwich,” Delligatti, who is still mum on the recipe for the Big Mac’s secret sauce, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this week.