Margaret Karcher
Margaret Magdalen Heinz Karcher (March 2, 1915 – June 6, 2006) was an American fast-food pioneer who co-founded the Carl's Jr. hamburger chain with her husband Carl Karcher, which today is owned by parent company CKE Restaurants.
Margaret Karcher | |
|---|---|
| Born | Margaret Magdalen Heinz March 2, 1915 Big River, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | June 6, 2006 (aged 91) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Spouse(s) | Carl Karcher (1939–2006; her death) |
Karcher and her husband started their first business, a hot dog stand, on July 17, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, when they borrowed $311 against their Plymouth automobile and added $15 from Margaret's purse. The stand initially sold hot dogs and Mexican tamales. On January 16, 1945, they opened their first restaurant, Carl's Drive-In Barbecue in Anaheim, California. They also opened Carl's Jr.[1]
Their restaurant quickly grew and they opened several more restaurants, numbering 100 by 1974 and more than 300 by 1981.
References
- "The Carl's Jr Story - Celebrating 70 Years". Carl's Jr.
External links
- Margaret Karcher, wife of Carl's Jr. founder, dies at 91 (CKE Restaurants press release)