<P> By the 1960s, Carl was operating 24 restaurants in Southern California . The company incorporated in 1966 as Carl Karcher Enterprises, Inc., and launched a major expansion of the chain in 1968 . The menus were limited for faster service, featuring charbroiled hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and malts . </P> <P> By 1975, there were more than 100 Carl's Jr. locations in Southern California, and the company expanded into the northern part of the state . Carl's Jr. celebrated its success by building its Anaheim corporate headquarters in 1976 . The following year, it became the first QSR chain to offer salad bars in all 200 locations . The first out - of - state restaurant opened in Las Vegas in 1979 . By the end of the decade, sales exceeded the $100 million mark . </P> <P> In 1980, the company hired its 10,000 th employee, doubling its employee count in just three years . In 1981, with 300 restaurants in operation, Carl Karcher Enterprises became a publicly held company . In 1984, Carl's Jr. was franchised for the first time . Carl's Jr.'s menu expanded during the decade with the addition of the Western Bacon Cheeseburger, breakfast items, a charbroiled chicken sandwich line and self - service soda fountains . By the end of the decade, sales topped $480 million at 534 restaurants . The company also opened its first international units in the Pacific Rim . In addition, Carl's Jr. was one of the first chains to introduce a debit card payment system, inviting customers to use their ATM cards in the restaurants . </P> <P> In 1988, Karcher and his family were accused of insider trading by the Securities and Exchange Commission . They had sold large quantities of stock before the price dropped . Karcher agreed to a settlement with the SEC and paid more than half a million dollars in fines . </P>

When did the western bacon cheeseburger come out
find me the text answering this question