Carl's Jr.

Carl's Jr. is a chain of fast food restaurants located mostly on the West Coast of the United States. It was started by Carl Karcher and is owned by CKE Restaurants.

Related Topics:
Chain - Fast food - West Coast - United States - Carl Karcher - CKE Restaurants

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Karcher got his start in the food industry by owning several hot dog stands in Los Angeles. In 1945, Karcher started a restaurant in Anaheim, California called Carl's Drive-In Barbeque. In 1956, Karcher opened the first two Carl's Jr's, so named because they were a junior version of his drive-in restaurant. The restaurant chain was characterized by its fast service and its logo, a bright yellow five-pointed star.

Related Topics:
Hot dog - Los Angeles - 1945 - Anaheim - California - 1956

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Carl's Jr. quickly expanded, and currently has over 1,000 locations in 13 U.S. states, as well as in Mexico, Guam and the Philippines. Featured food items include the Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger and the Six Dollar Burger, so called because it is allegedly of the same quality of a burger one would pay six dollars for in a sit-down restaurant. In May 2005, Carl's Jr. introduced "The Spicy BBQ Six Dollar Burger" in a controversial advertising campaign (see below).

Related Topics:
U.S. state - Mexico - Guam - Philippines - Bacon - Cheeseburger - May - 2005

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In 1997, CKE Restaurants acquired Hardee's, a restaurant chain with 2500 locations on the East Coast. Hardee's restaurants are gradually being converted to be more like Carl's Jr, even adopting the same star logo.

Related Topics:
1997 - Hardee's - East Coast

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In 2001, CKE Restaurants acquired Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, the company that owned the Green Burrito brand.

Related Topics:
2001 - Santa Barbara Restaurant Group - Green Burrito

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