Carl’s Jr Near Me

Since the 1940s, Carl’s Jr has been serving up delicious and affordable fast food fare to the hungry masses. From delicious fries, shakes and chicken sandwiches to epic burgers, Carl’s Jr has reserved a reputation amongst fast foods finest chains.

Are you interested in finding a Carl’s Jr location near you? Simply browse Carl’s Jr near me on the map below and find a list of Carl’s Jrs locations near you. Need a bit more information on Carl’s Jr? Read on for interesting facts, trivia, and history on this renowned chain.

Carl’s Jr Near Me – Find it on the Map

Carl’s Jr Near Me – Carl’s Jr Trivia

Who founded Carl’s Jr?

Like so many popular fast food chains, Carl’s Jr was born of humble roots and a simple idea. Carl Karcher and his wife Margaret Karcher borrowed $311 on their Plymouth Automobile in 1941 in order to purchase a hot dog cart on the corner of Florence in Central Los Angeles. The hot dog cart was far from impressive, but the duo made a go of it selling hot dogs, chili dogs and tamales for a dime. Soda would have set you back just one nickel. Within a few years, Carl and Margaret’s meager hot dog cart lead to more hot dog stands in Los Angeles. By 1945, the Karchers made the move to Anaheim, California and opened their very first brick and mortar restaurant, then dubbed, Carl’s Drive-In Barbecue. One year later, hamburgers were added to the menu, much to the delight of patrons throughout the area. By the time the 1950s rolled around, Karcher opened two Carl’s Jr. Restaurants. They earned the name “Jr.” because they were intended to be a smaller and more compact version of the drive-in restaurant located in Anaheim and Brea. By the end of the 1950s, there were a total of four Carl’s Jr. restaurants in Orange County. The brand also boasted a new supervisor, Donald Karcher. Donald was Carl’s younger brother. He would later become the company’s president. As you search Carl’s Jr near me, consider just how this brand has grown since its inception in the 1940s.

carl's jr near me

Carl’s Jr is as beloved as they come in terms of fast food chains.

True or false: There was an attempt at a Carl’s Jr Mexican restaurant.

If you’re on the quest for a Carl’s Jr near me, odds are you don’t have a strong hankering for Mexican food. In fact, most people would be hard pressed to find a connection between Carl’s Jr and the food sold at a Taco Bell. Strangely enough, Carl’s Jr did once expand into the the Mexican food business. Karcher wasn’t content just owning Carl’s Jr. He desperately wanted to expand his fast food empire and struggled to come up with new ideas to press forward. In order to grow, Karcher created his own corporation in 1964, which he dubbed, Carl Karcher Enterprises. In 1972, he managed to open a Mexican fast food chain called Taco De Carlos. In order to differentiate itself from Taco Bell, Taco de Carlos served place specific foods like the California Burrito as well as Carl’s Jr hamburgers and french fries. Sadly, Taco de Carlos never took off and the 17 locations were sold off in the 1980s. Karcher also attempted a failed foray into the coffee business with a Scottish themed chain known as Scot’s Coffee Shops.

Carl’s Jr Near Me – Carl’s Jr Facts

Carls Jr. And Hardees

One thing you may have noticed while searching Carl’s Jr near me is that Carl’s Jr. and Hardees restaurants are almost identical in looks. This isn’t a coincidence. Carl’s Jr. bought out Hardee’s in 1997, this is why the chains both have similar looks. CKE Restaurants, which is still to this day based in California, is the parent company of Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr., Green Burrito, and Red Burrito. In 1997, CKE managed to acquire Hardee’s, a fast food chain that was predominantly featured in the Midwest, Mid Atlantic and Southeast. The deal cost a whopping $327 million. Despite the acquisition, Hardee’s kept its name and a few of its signature menu items, but it now bears the exact same branding, advertising, and design as a typical Carl’s Jr. restaurant. Carl’s Jr. is mainly located in the West and Southwest, with a menu that reflects the geography of the area. Carl’s Jr. does sell Hardee’s Southern biscuits for breakfast and some typical western and southwestern lunch and dinner menu items including the Tex Mex Thickburger and burritos. Carl’s Jr has been focusing on growing in Texas after failed attempts to establish a presence in the 1980s and 1990s.

An Enormous Family

Here’s something you may not know as you search Carl’s Jr. near me: Carl Karcher had an enormous family. We’re talking bigger than the Brady Bunch here. When Karcher passed away from Parkinson’s disease in 2000, Carl, who was almost 91 left behind a huge family. It was revealed that he and his wife Margaret had 12 children, 51 grandchildren, and 45 great grandchildren. According to friends, Carl’s huge family had everything to do with his strong Catholic faith. He was known to attend mass nearly every morning at the St. Boniface Catholic Church. That’s the same church that he and Margaret married at in 1939. The Carl Karcher Enterprises headquarters even displays a statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Before company meetings, Carl reportedly recited a prayer and spread well wishes to all those in attendance.

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