Margaret Karcher
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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.
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Margaret Karcher | |
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Born | Margaret Magdalen Heinz (1915-03-02)March 2, 1915 Big River, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | June 6, 2006(2006-06-06) (aged 91) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
Occupation | Entrepreneur |
Spouse | 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.