Denton House/McDonald's

 

Long Island’s Denton House, an 18th-century farmhouse that was converted into a Georgian-style mansion in the 1860s, houses perhaps the grandest McDonald’s restaurant on the planet. Built in 1795 as a family dwelling, it once served as the farmhouse of Joseph Denton, a descendent of Rev. Richard Denton, one of the founders of the town of Hempstead, New York. The house served a variety of functions over the years, including a funeral home and a string of restaurants. The building, however, fell into disrepair in the latter half of the 20th century. In 1985, McDonald’s purchased the property and planned to raze the structure, but residents of the town and the surrounding area intervened, hoping to save the building from the wrecking ball.

By 1988, local preservations campaign succeeded in getting the Denton House designated as a historic site. Unable to demolish the building, McDonald’s came up with a brilliant compromise that made everyone happy: the company would invest several million dollars into restoring the house, in exchange for permission to build a drive-thru. The locals agreed, the permits were granted, and the transformation began.

Long Island’s most beautiful McDonald’s opened its doors to the public in 1991, with a fully refurbished interior that honored its history while still being a functional fast food restaurant. One of the highlights of the restaurant is the home’s veranda, which serves as a dining area and is sealed in with glass paneling. Even the drive-thru is unobtrusive and in keeping with the home’s overall appearance. 

 

Sources:

“Bite into History at the McMansion, Long Island’s Fanciest McDonald’s.” ABC7 New York, 2 July 2021, abc7ny.com/mcmansion-mcdonalds-the-denton-house-landmark/10851005

 “Denton House McDonald’s.” Atlas Obscura, 8 July 2013, www.atlasobscura.com/places/denton-house-mcdonalds

Robicelli, Allison. “Everyone Deserves to Know about the Long Island Mansion McDonald’s.” The Takeout, 21 Apr. 2021, thetakeout.com/long-island-new-york-hyde-park-mcdonalds-elegant-beauti-1846731301