A new company has signed an agreement to open 121 new Carl’s Jr. franchises in Texas — including as many as 40 in the Houston area — over the next 10 years. But it’ll take a while for them to get started here at least. The Houston Business Journal’s Allison Wollam reports that RWJP Star Enterprises has
a franchise agreement to open locations in the eastern part of Houston, and [partner Rich] White expects the first location to open in the first quarter of next year. They are still in the process of scouting sites, the first of which will be built from the ground up.
Carl’s Jr. franchises have to agree to open at least three units, for a total initial investment of $1.3 million, according to the company’s Web site.
Will the year-long wait leave enough time for other competing newcomers to get established? Wollam reports Smashburger is planning to open a second location at Briarforest and Eldridge later this month. And:
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The company is also scouting sites in The Woodlands, Sugar Land and the Memorial area.
Meanwhile, Arlington, Va.-based Five Guys Burgers and Fries plans to open 50 locations in the Houston market. Leases have been signed for restaurants in the Kroger Center at 1645 S. Voss Road and in the H-E-B Center at 9762 Katy Freeway, both of which are set to open in late spring.
Another Five Guys location, at 13346 Briar Forest Dr., is listed as “coming soon” on the company website. Five Guys restaurants are already open in Rosenberg and near Lake Conroe.
- Seasoned retailers dig into Houston with Carl’s Jr. [Houston Business Journal]
- Smashburger: Meat Candy for Strip Centers [Swamplot]
Photo of Smashburger, 7811 Main at Kirby: Alison Cook
8 Comments
They’re crazy. It’s a recession/depression. Who’s going to shell out money for expensive burgers when there are already so many other local alternatives?
While I welcome the additional choices that these bring, I do agree with marmer about our large variety of local choices.
We have so many local burger joints doing their take on the classic that Michael Berry has posted a monster list on his blog at ktrh.com. There is voting going on for the top choice. A lot of listeners are running around trying all the local favs to have a better informed vote.
It may just be my particular taste, but I’ve had Smashburger twice now - it might make its way to my favorite. Not that we don’t have good local stuff (and I’m ALL about the local stuff), but there’s just something about the burgers there (for the record, I have only had the 1/2 lb - the smaller one didn’t *look* as appetizing).
Like the Wine Bar craze… the Burger Stand craze will soon subside. I can’t wait.
Maybe the big chain burger craze will die down, but the smaller local ones will be here as long as someone will run it.
Simple, just support your local burger place. Christian’s Totem, Lankford Grocery, Stanton’s City Bites, Guy’s Meat Market, Sparkle’s, DJ’s, Broken Spoke, Little Big’s, HubCap Grill, all are locally owned and make a damn fine sandwich. Support your local businessman.
The Five Guys location at Kroger Center at 1645 S. Voss Road, Houston, is opening Wednesday, April 29! Everyone spread the word and go eat some amazing burgers and fries!
I can do without FiveGuys but Smash burger immediately became my favorite burger joint.