This Is The Largest Collection Of McDonald's Memorabilia In The World
In the decades the restaurant has been around, the Golden Arches of McDonald's have become an iconic image of American culture, just like football, Walmart, and highways. To some, McDonald's represents the American Dream of wealth and success through hard work, investment, and moxie. To others, the chain is a greasy symbol of consumerism. Either way, you can't deny that the chain has plenty of miles behind it and they've got the merchandise to show for it.
Although the restaurant is in the hamburger business, its sphere of influence has extended to everything from toys to celebrities and even an animated cartoon back in the 1990s. The company even has its own fashion line, Golden Arches Unlimited, where you can buy items like t-shirts, hoodies, totes, and duffle bags to show your allegiance to the Arches. Some of those old-school Happy Meals toys are worth a pretty heavy price, but that's just scratching the surface of how influential the brand is. For one Pennsylvania man, collecting these bits and pieces of Ronald McDonald lore isn't just a hobby, but a livelihood.
One man's trash is another man's McTreasure
If you were to pass by Mike Fountaine's Lehigh Valley homestead, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's just another average American home. On the inside, however, lies a wonderland of colorful lights, shelves upon shelves of glasses, cups, and toys, and even statues of the big clown himself, Ronald McDonald. For years, Fountaine has amassed a vast collection of McDonald's memorabilia ranging from promotional glasses and advertisements to equipment and branded products from outside of the U.S. It adds up to an astounding 75,000 pieces of McDonald's merchandise spanning nine rooms (via Thrillist). Fountaine is so dedicated to the collection that he purchased a 1960s-era McDonald's sign that is now kept in his barn, according to PennLive.
Fountaine's legacy with Mcdonald's began when he was only 15, getting his first job at McDonald's. His first piece of memorabilia was a lapel pin he received after a year of working for the company. The Lehigh Valley resident owns a franchise, where his love of the fast food chain shines through his restaurant. According to World Kings, his Allentown McDonald's location has a cherry wood fireplace, chandeliers, and even a children's musical playground. Fountaine says he wants to create a museum to showcase the collections. The museum, he explains, will be used to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House.