The first McDonald’s restaurant in Germany opened on December 4, 1971, on Martin-Luther-Straße in Munich. With approximately 1,500 restaurants nationwide—including one at Essen Central Station—McDonald’s and its 235 franchisees employ an annual average of about 60,000 people. With an average of about 2.7 million guests daily, McDonald’s is the market leader in the restaurant industry in Germany, a popular family restaurant, and a gathering place for people of all ages.