Celebrating our Historic Mcdonald's "Arch" and a Special 40th Anniversary!
- Bob Gernert
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
It is only slightly ironic that one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Winter Haven is the Sixth Street McDonald’s. (Andy’s Igloo predates it, but that is a story for another day.) In fact, the single-arch sign at the front of the property — original to the location — is one of less than ten left in the country.
Our story begins when two brothers, Vernon and Philip Vineyard, decided to become franchisees of a new concept, McDonald’s Hamburgers. Vernon came to Florida in 1949 to lead a branch of an accounting business founded by his father. In the beginning, he specialized in citrus accounts here while Philip stayed in the Chicago area specializing in accounts from the food industry.
According to Josephine Burr writing in “The History of Winter Haven,” “one night in 1954 Philip called Vernon and began the conversation, ‘How would you like to go into business selling 15-cent hamburgers?’” Burr relates that Vernon jokingly questioned his brother’s mental state at the time. Philip wanted to investigate the opportunity reported to gross $200,000 per restaurant, annually.
The brothers decided to proceed and in 1958 opened their first store in Lake Worth, Florida. Five years later in 1963 they opened the Sixth Street location. By the early 70s, Vineyard Industries had 21 franchisee locations and was the largest McDonald’s franchisee in the country.
Many teenagers, including this writer, spent many hours “cruising McDonald’s” or backing our cars in and watching the parade. Facebook comments regarding the restaurant span the generations and are filled with fond memories, including those of a fishpond once located in the front. One also noted the drive-thru was added in 1978.
A HISTORIC “ARCH”
The Sixth Street McDonald’s has evolved into a very modern structure, though its interior decor features many historic photos. However, the sign at the Sixth Street location is another matter. It is one of less than ten single arch signs left in the country. According to Wikipedia, “The singlearch McDonald’s sign represents a transition from the “Speedee” sign to the now-ubiquitous double golden arches. The design was used for one year; rare then, it is far rarer today.”
The first double golden arches sign came into use about the time our store opened.
Typical of the single-arch style from McDonald’s early years, the Sixth Street sign has plastic panels held in a metal frame. The sign was manufactured by Sign Crafters of Evansville, Indiana, and the plastic sheeting was made by Rohm & Haas Company of Philadelphia.
Wikipedia also notes, “McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc designed the sign after seeing an image of the McDonald family crest. The arch itself evokes modernism. In “Orange Roofs, Golden Arches: The Architecture of American Chain Restaurants,” Phillip Langdon stated the arch was symbolic of a “buoyant spirit: a feeling of skyward momentum, symbolic of an aerospace age in which man could hurtle himself into the heavens.” Langdon says the arch was intended to bring a sense of structural modernism to a roadside hamburger stand.”
CURRENT OWNERS GARY AND KIM MOULTON
Gary Moulton began his McDonald’s career in 1967 as a $1.25/hour employee in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. That was funding his travel to the University of New Hampshire. Eighteen years later, he had climbed the ladder of success to become vice president of operations for a 48-restaurant franchisee in New England. Looking to create an organization of his own, he contacted an old friend who invited him to consider the purchase of a three-restaurant group for sale in Winter Haven and Haines City.
In Moulton’s words, “I made the trip to Winter Haven and it was love at first sight.” He found three restaurants with great potential with a “dynamic, firecracker of an employee named Kim who was clearly in charge.” She began her McDonald’s career in Wisconsin in 1974.
On October 1, 1985, Gary created “Raysway, Inc.” in honor of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. He felt that staying true to Kroc’s vision would bring success, and forty years later that is exactly what has happened.
Gary and Kim worked hand in glove for ten years building a management staff and buying some restaurants along the way. Their shared passion for the business, love of Winter Haven and each other led to their marriage in 1999.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
The Sixth Street store is McDonald’s #500. The Moultons treasure the rich history of the location and feel blessed to operate a milestone restaurant. They also appreciate the City of Winter Haven for allowing the historic single-arch sign to mark the spot where the restaurant has operated for 63 years. Store #500 makes Winter Haven history as the longest, continuous operating restaurant under the same name.
The Moultons invite you to join in celebrating their 40th Anniversary and its historic sign.
“FREE HISTORIC BREAKFAST”
Visit and tour the Museum of Winter Haven History during the month of October. and get a certificate for breakfast at the Sixth Street store. While dining you can enjoy their gallery of historic photos. For every visitor to the museum during October, Raysway, Inc. (Gary and Kim) will donate $5 to Ronald McDonald House Charities and $5 to the Museum of Winter Haven History.
“SELFIE WITH THE SIGN”
Take a “selfie with the Single Arch sign.” Send your photo of you and the sign to signselfie@gmail.com.
The information for this segment was compiled from “The History of Winter Haven” by Josephine Burr, internet sources and conversations with Gary and Kim Moulton.
