Resistance to advertising normally comes from the consuming public, but here we have a case of a giant corporation rejecting one of their best brand advocates.

from Los Angeles Times: Albert Okura, a businessman who owns and runs Juan Pollo, a chain of Mexican rotisserie chicken restaurants in Southern California operates a quirky museum in San Bernadino. Okura built the museum as a tribute to Ray Kroc, his longtime hero. Kroc opened the first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Ill. in 1955.

The museum pays tribute to the burger empire that gave the world the Big Mac, McNuggets and the Happy Meal. Inside, visitors can see — free of charge — more than 5,000 pieces of kitschy McDonald's memorabilia, including Happy Meal toys, commemorative plates, dolls and 1950s milkshake machines and fryers. The walls are adorned with handwritten letters from a few of the first fry cooks and car hop girls at McDonald's.

The corporate keepers had this to say: "The museum in San Bernardino, which displays McDonald's historic information and memorabilia, is not in any way affiliated with the McDonald's Corporation. McDonald's has the right, by law, to protect our trademark." McDonald's officials declined to comment further on the museum, except to say that anyone looking for historical information about the company should visit the McDonald's website.

December 1, 2004 by david burn | Permalink | 0 Comments