Hardees vs Carls Jr

[Mapmikey]

I've been seeing TV spots that are for both Carl Jrs and Hardees in the same ad.

Growing up in South Carolina in the 1970s, Hardees was usually the first national fast food chain to come to the smaller towns.

mike

[briantroutman]

Despite the branding similarities (like Hellman's/Best Foods, McCormick/Schilling,...), I never pictured them as the same company...I have always associated Hardee's with Roast Beef (which they did serve, at least at the beginning) and Carl's with burgers.

If you weren't already aware, I should point out that Hardee's and Carl's Jr. weren't related until CKE (Carl's parent company) bought Hardee's in 1997.

Originally, the attraction of Hardee's was that their burgers were broiled over charcoal. That, and the fact that their small-town NC origins led them to serve many rural South communities that McDonald's and other major chains passed over. The chain probably peaked with the addition of made-from-scratch breakfast biscuits in 1978. After that, they expanded at the expense of that which made them unique.

Much of the expansion came through acquisition and conversion of parts or all of other chains (Burger Chef, Roy Rogers, Rax). The charbroilers were dropped, corners were cut, and Hardee's soon found itself in a race to the bottom as just another national burger joint.

Hardee's probably hit bottom in the mid '90s as they got wrapped up in "value menu"  wars with the national players. A solid decade or more of de-investment had left the chain in rough shape. I remember stopping at a Hardee's in Martinsburg, WV around 1995–the most depressing fast food experience of my life. It was the dining equivalent of stepping into an old Kmart.

[hbelkins]

When I lived in NW Ohio, Hardee's never existed until Rax (roast beef restaurant, ala Arby's) went under and Hardee's quickly filled most of their spots.

I loved Rax roast beef. I think there are a few locations still in existence, although I haven't seen one in forever. Back in the late 80s, I had to go to London, Ky. for work once a week. They had a Rax there, and I ate lunch there just about every time I was there.

My favorite sandwich was their BBC (Beef, Bacon & Cheddar). I don't know if they could get by with naming a sandwich that today. 

[kendancy66]

Despite the branding similarities (like Hellman's/Best Foods, McCormick/Schilling,...), I never pictured them as the same company.   When I lived in NW Ohio, Hardee's never existed until Rax (roast beef restaurant, ala Arby's) went under and Hardee's quickly filled most of their spots.  So I have always associated Hardee's with Roast Beef (which they did serve, at least at the beginning) and Carl's with burgers.


I now live in Carl's territory, and I don't know if this is the same with Hardees ad's, but why do all of the Carl's TV ads have to have someone who sounds like a stoner who seems to talk down to viewers?  Even their "star" mascot looks like a stoned Kool-Aid man.

I think you are confusing Carl's jr with jack in the box. Carl's jr commercials are all about sexy models eating stuff they would never do in real life because then they would be overweight regular people like us

[briantroutman]

...Even their "star" mascot looks like a stoned Kool-Aid man.

I think you are confusing Carl's jr with jack in the box.

I don't think he was referring to Jack in the Box's Jack clown-head character; I think he was referring to the smiling star character in their logo...

[02 Park Ave]

Hardees had charbroiled burghers in Glassboro NJ in the early 1970's.

[nexus73]

Seeing the new Carl's Jr. commercials cracks me up since the background is the USS Intrepid and NYC.  There are no Carl's Jr. or Hardee's there!

Rick

[Revive 755]

I loved Rax roast beef. I think there are a few locations still in existence, although I haven't seen one in forever.

There is still one in Joliet, IL, on US 52 a short distance west of IL 7.

[SP Cook]

I really liked Rax.  As I understand it, the chain went through bankruptcy several times and the handful of remaining outlets can keep being "Rax" in whatever territory they had without any corporate support.   Some guy in Ironton, OH bought the name for the rest of the country from the bankruptcy court, but I don't think he has done much with it. 

The old "fast casual" chain Bennigan's is in the same situation.  Several now unrelated "legacy" restaurants around from the former franchisees, and a new outfit trying to sell new centrally served outlets.

[02 Park Ave]

Is it the same situation with Staek'n'Ale?  They had the same owner as Bennigan's.