McDonald’s is a global brand, but it has its roots in California. Not surprisingly, from its earliest days, the Golden Arches were built around serving hamburgers, fries, and drinks to patrons in their cars, first using car hops and later drive-thrus.
A McDonald’s campaign in California’s Central Valley is tapping into the Golden State’s deep car culture, specifically the lowrider scene. Working with designer Cecelia Perez and muralist Carlos Lopez, the brand added some of that local culture to a Stockton McDonald’s location with the “McMamalona” mural. The mural depicts a custom truck facing the front of a McDonald’s, with a couple embraced at the edge of the bed, capturing the essence of a date night in the Central Valley through the lens of custom trucks and Mexican-American communities. It feels authentic and celebratory, which doesn’t happen enough when big brands like McDonald’s attempt to tap into non-WASP culture in America.



















