Carl's Jr. Restaurants Franchise

History

In 1941, Carl N. Karchner launched his Los Angeles business by buying a hot dog cart with his wife Margaret. Soon, the couple were operating several carts. In 1945, they opened their first drive-in hamburger restaurant in Anaheim, California, under the name of Carl's Drive-In Barbecue. In the following years, the Karchners pioneered several innovations that would later become industry standards, such as self-service beverage stations.

The first Carl's Jr. opened in the 1950's as a smaller, more focused version of the Drive-In Barbecue. As the company wanted to combine quick service with high quality and a comfortable experience, Carl's Jr. became the first fast restaurant chain to provide table service and to put thought into providing a pleasant dining environment. In the 1970's, the Carl's Jr. corporate headquarters were established in Anaheim, California. The company opened its first out-of-state location in 1979. The following decade, the chain introduced the hugely successful Western Bacon Cheeseburger.

Carl's Jr. went public in 1981. At the time, it was operating 300 locations. It took the next step in 1984 and began offering franchises. In keeping with its innovative spirit, the company was among the first to implement a system that allowed customers to pay with debit cards.

In 1994, the restaurant chain underwent a massive revitalization program that included various updates and a partnership with Green Burrito. The parent company, CKE Restaurants, also acquired Hardee's. In 2010, CKE Restaurants – and Carl's Jr. with it – went back to being a privately held company. In 2011, Carl's Jr became the first major fast food company to put turkey burgers on its menu, appealing to an increasingly health-conscious public.