Carl's Jr. is a chain of fast-food burger restaurants in the United States, primarily concentrated in the American West. Combined with its sister chain Hardee's, Carl's Jr. is the nation's fourth largest burger chain, following McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's. The company is currently in the process of expanding into Canada, Mexico, and China.
Carl's Jr. was founded in 1941 Carl N Karcher in Anaheim, CA as a stand-alone restaurant called Carl's Drive-In Barbecue. In 1956, Karcher opened two miniature versions of his restaurant in Anaheim and nearby Brea. Today, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are found in all regions of the United States except New England, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. By 2008, the Anaheim-based company hopes to operate over 4,000 restaurants.
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