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Overview

This small structure was located next to the Catholic Church attended by owner Carl Karcher and his wife, Margaret, and was about 1000 feet northeast of Anaheim High School at the intersection of Janss Street (that no longer stretches between West Cypress Street and Lincoln Avenue) and Lincoln.

Building History

This hamburger chain was founded in Anaheim, CA, by Carl N. (1917-2008) and Margaret Heinz Karcher (1915-2006) in 1956. The Karchers opened a hot-dog stand in Los Angeles, CA, in 1941, and from savings derived from that and subsequent stands, they opened their first full-service restaurant in Anaheim in 1945. This fast-food hamburger establishment was based on the first Carl's Drive-In that opened at 1108 North Palm Street in Anaheim just after World War II. The CKR Restaurants Holdings, Incorporated, web site stated about this 1956 restaurant: "In 1956, Carl expanded his business by opening the first two Carl’s Jr.® restaurants in Anaheim and nearby Brea. They were so named because they were junior versions of Carl’s original drive-in restaurant. Carl used an innovative system for serving guests. Customers paid for their orders when they were placed, and by the time they had put away their wallets, their food was nearly ready. It was the beginning of a long tradition of Carl’s Jr. “firsts” in the quick-service restaurant industry." (See CKE Restaurants Holdings, Incorporated.com. "History," accessed 01/31/2018.)

Carl Karcher brought in his brother Donald Frederick (1927-1992), who was 10 years younger, to manage the first two Carl's Jr., Restaurants. In his obituary, the Los Angeles Times wrote: "Don Karcher, preferring to operate hamburger eateries rather than coffee shops, became the first manager of the two Carl's Jr. restaurants that were started in 1956. They were designed to be miniature versions of the full-service barbecue restaurants." Donald Karcher would go on to become a pivotal executive in the expansion of the chain; the Times also noted: "Under Don Karcher, company revenues rose from close to $140 million in 1979 to $534 million last year [1991]." (See Chris Woodyard, Los Angeles Times.com, "Don Karcher of Carl's Jr. Chain Dies," published 05/20/1992, accessed 02/01/2018.) He also became a formidable ally within the fast-growing company as its political conditions became more complex. The company grew to include four restaurants by the late 1950s, 24 in 1966 and 100 by 1975. (See Eric Malnic, Los Angeles Times.com, "Carl Karcher, 90; entrepreneur turned hot dog stand into a fast-food empire," published 01/12/2008, accessed 02/01/2018.) Carl's Jr. had 632 restaurants in 1992, the year of Donald Karcher's death.

The Karchers, avid supporters of the Catholic church, donated the Carl's Jr. #1 site and building to their local parish, Saint Boniface Catholic Church. The site has been reused as Bethany Hall for the Saint Boniface.

Builidng Notes

The rectangular building is long and thin, and lit with arched windows. A faux Spanish tile roof juts from just below the eaves line.

Demolition

This restaurant was remodeled into a multi-purpose building for Saint Boniface's Church.

PCAD id: 21783