Carl’s Jr. celebrates its 75-year history as one of California’s most iconic brands with the launch of its newest menu item: the California Classic Double Cheeseburger, available now at participating restaurant locations.
Originally founded in Los Angeles in 1941 by Carl Karcher and his wife Margaret, Carl’s Jr. has since made a name for itself as one of the leaders in developing innovative quick service restaurant menu offerings, but the California Classic Double Cheeseburger is actually more of a throwback.
Starting with two of their famous charbroiled beef patties, the Carl’s Jr. California Classic Double Cheeseburger is big on taste, with two slices of melting American cheese, grilled onions, Thousand Island dressing, and fresh lettuce and tomato on a bun.
"Many of the earliest, iconic double cheeseburgers sold in California had the usual toppings of fresh produce and American cheese, but what really made them special was the addition of grilled onions and Thousand Island dressing,” says Brad Haley, chief marketing officer for Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants. “So, to help celebrate this year’s 75th anniversary of Carl’s Jr., we’re offering a nod to the past with this delicious, yet retro, burger. In this case, great taste hasn’t gone out of style.”
Haley adds, “It’s also fitting that the idea for the California Classic Double Cheeseburger came from one of our very own franchisees. In fact, it actually came from John Nelson, the president of the Carl’s Jr. franchise association, no less – something Carl [Karcher] would have loved.”
The charbroiled California Classic Double Cheeseburger is available starting at $2.49, and can be ordered as a combo meal with fries and a drink starting at $4.99, however, prices may vary.
Carl’s Jr. will promote the California Classic Double Cheeseburger with an entertaining ad campaign titled, “Welcome to California.” With a cool California vibe, the new commercial will star a soon-to-be-revealed NFL pro supported with a very funny cameo performance from an actor-comedian turned sports radio personality.
Sister concept Hardee’s combines two quintessentially American comfort foods into one with the introduction of the Grilled Ham ‘N’ Cheese Thickburger, available at participating restaurants.
The Grilled Ham ‘N’ Cheese Thickburger features four slices of melting American and Swiss cheeses, and thinly sliced ham piled atop a charbroiled, 100 percent Black Angus beef patty, with just the right amount of mayonnaise and mustard, all sandwiched between two slices of grilled bread.
“Hardee’s has a long and successful history of combining the popular tastes of great American sandwiches with the great American burger,” says Brad Haley, chief marketing officer for Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. restaurants. “From Philly Cheesesteaks to French Dips, the flavors have always paired really well with a charbroiled, 100 percent Black Angus beef patty, but putting a burger inside of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich may be the best marriage yet. It’s like a cheeseburger with a whole lot of melted cheese, and the ham provides the smokiness that bacon usually provides on a really good burger. I guess you could even say that we put the ham back in the hamburger.’”
The Grilled Ham ‘N’ Cheese Thickburger is available in quarter, third, and half-pound sizes, all made with charbroiled, 100 percent Black Angus beef, starting at $3.79, or as a combo meal with fries and a drink starting at $5.79.
