<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.carlsjr.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Carl's Jr . Restaurants LLC is a fast food restaurant chain operated by CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc., with locations primarily in the Western and Southwestern United States . </P> <P> Carl Karcher (1917--2008) and his wife Margaret (1915--2006) founded the predecessor of Carl's Jr. in 1941, starting as a hot - dog cart in Los Angeles . In 1945, the Karchers moved to Anaheim, California, and opened their first full - service restaurant, Carl's Drive - In Barbecue . As the restaurant became successful, Carl expanded his business by opening the first two Carl's Jr. restaurants in Anaheim and nearby Brea in 1956 . They were so named because they were smaller versions of Carl's original drive - in restaurant . That same year, the chain was officially renamed Carl's Jr. and the fast - food chain took off . </P> <P> In 2016, Entrepreneur listed Carl's Jr. as #54 on their Top Franchise 500 list, which ranks the overall financial strength, stability, and growth rate for the top 500 franchisees in any field across the United States . </P>

When was the first carl's jr opened