RETAIL/TOURISM : It Will Be a Year of Celebrations for Fast-Food King Karcher and Carl’s Jr.
The new year is less than 3 weeks old, but Carl Karcher Enterprises has already started celebrating company founder Carl Karcher’s 50th anniversary in the fast-food business.
On Tuesday, the Anaheim-based restaurant chain brought hot dogs back to the menu at its 526 Carl’s Jr. restaurants. As the story goes, Carl and Margaret Karcher launched their fast-food empire by buying a hot dog cart for $326 in 1941, pledging their new Plymouth as collateral. They sold $14.75 worth of dogs the first day from a street corner in central Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, Karcher celebrated his 74th birthday.
Today, the company will open its newest restaurant at Chapman Avenue and Valley View Street in Garden Grove with a prize giveaway and a party that will presumably include Carl’s specialties.
The real party, however, is just getting started. The company plans to hold a lavish banquet this summer in honor of its founder. Other big names in the food business, like Wendy’s International founder Dave Thomas, have been invited.
