McDowell's

McDowell's is a fictional fast food restaurant from Eddie Murphy's 1988 comedy motion picture "Coming to America".

In the movie, the restaurant is owned by Cleo McDowell (John Amos) and based in Queens, New York. It is under investigation from the McDonald's Corporation for allegedly copying their franchise. At one point, McDowell confronts a photographer shooting outside the restaurant, whom McDowell believes is working to gather evidence for McDonald's. The logos and typeface are extremely similar, including the names of the dishes: the "Big Mac" becomes the "Big Mick" - containing "two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions, but their buns have sesame seeds. My buns have no seeds." McDowell, in describing the differences between his location and McDonald's, explains, "They got the Golden Arches, mine is the Golden Arcs." Later in the film, when McDowell is first confronted by King Jaffe Joffer, he is seen reading a McDonald's Operation Manual.

Upon arriving in America, Akeem and Semmi get jobs at McDowell's, and it is through his employment there that Akeem first meets Lisa McDowell, Cleo's daughter.

The location of the restaurant is [http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS215US216&pwst=1&resnum=0&q=85-07+Queens+Blvd,+Elmhurst,+NY+11373,+USA&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title 8507] Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, Queens, as specified accurately in the movie. The building is now a Wendy's restaurant.