We probably pass a pair of Golden Arches daily, if not more often, when we’re out and about around town or in our own neighborhoods. However, one of those popular fast food joints just might be the most unique McDonald’s near Pittsburgh. It is, after all, home to the Big Mac Museum, an homage to the worldwide phenomenon that was invented right here in Western Pennsylvania.
Chances are most of us have had a Big Mac or two during our lives. Unless you’re a Western Pennsylvania native, you might not know that the Big Mac was invented right here in the area.
Jim Delligatti ran a McDonald’s franchise in Uniontown when, one day in 1967, he created a brand new sandwich – The Big Mac.
The invention was largely inspired by customer demand for something other than a plain burger or cheeseburger. Delligatti responded with the Big Man, two burgers topped with pickles, onions, lettuce, and his special sauce.
However, the Big Mac was a huge flop – at least with the corporate headquarters who showed no interest in adding the new sandwich to the menu. Delligatti did what any entrepreneur would do and added it to his restaurant’s menu himself.
The Big Mac was such a big hit in Uniontown that corporate immediately added it to the menu. Today, just about anywhere you go in the world, you can find a McDonald’s serving Delligatti’s famous burger.
The McDonald’s in Irwin, in fact, doubles as the Big Mac Museum, a spot that honors the inventor and his famous sandwich with a massive Big Mac statue. (It stands 14 feet tall and is 12 feet wide.)
You can also learn more about the Big Mac through the years, see the different boxes that held the famous sandwich over the years, and more.
If you’re going to the McDonald’s in Irwin specifically to visit the museum, be sure you call ahead of time. The indoor dining area may still be closed due to the ongoing pandemic.
Do you agree that this is the most unique McDonald’s near Pittsburgh? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments! For another unique dining experience, head over to Black Lotus Pizza, a gaming pizza joint on Penn Avenue.
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