<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> jackinthebox.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Jack in the Box is an American fast - food restaurant chain founded February 21, 1951, by Robert O. Peterson in San Diego, California, where it is headquartered . The chain has 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States and selected large urban areas in the eastern portion of the US including Texas . Food items include a variety of hamburger and cheeseburger sandwiches along with selections of internationally themed foods such as tacos and egg rolls . The company also operates the Qdoba Mexican Grill chain . </P> <P> Robert Oscar Peterson already owned several successful restaurants when he opened Topsy's Drive - In at 6270 El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego in 1941 . Several more Topsy's were opened and eventually renamed Oscar's (after Peterson's middle name). By the late 1940s, the Oscar's locations had developed a circus - like décor featuring drawings of a starry - eyed clown . In 1947, Peterson obtained rights for the intercom ordering concept from George Manos who owned one location named Chatter box in Anchorage, Alaska, the first known location to use the intercom concept for drive up windows . In 1951, Peterson converted the El Cajon Boulevard location into Jack in the Box, a hamburger stand focused on drive - through service . While the drive - through concept was not new, Jack in the Box innovated a two - way intercom system, the first major chain to use an intercom and the first to focus on drive - through . The intercom allowed much faster service than a traditional drive - up window; while one customer was being served at the window, a second and even a third customer's order could be taken and prepared . A giant clown projected from the roof, and a smaller clown head sat atop the intercom, where a sign said, "Pull forward, Jack will speak to you ." The Jack in the Box restaurant was conceived as a "modern food machine," designed by La Jolla, California master architect Russell Forester . Quick service made the new location very popular, and soon all of Oscar's locations were redesigned with intercoms and rechristened Jack in the Box restaurants . </P> <P> Peterson's holding company Foodmaker Company by 1966 was known as Foodmaker, Inc . At this time, all Jack in the Box locations--over 180, mainly in California and the Southwest--were company - owned; location sites, food preparation, quality control, and the hiring and training of on - site managers and staff in each location were subject to rigorous screening and strict performance standards . </P>

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