# Hardees/Carl's Jr Rallys/Checkers....Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649 "2014-09-16T13:30:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/1 "2014-09-16T13:30:57Z")
Why are these split the way they are? I know that in the north you’ll find Hardees and Rally’s, and the south they’ll be Carl’s Jr and Checkers, but why are they split in the first place when they’re literally the same restaurant? It would make sense if they were two separate entities that just happen to be owned by the same parent group, but in every facet of business they’re the same…they even have the same commercials! There’s got to be a reason for it, anyone know it? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/2 "2014-09-16T13:32:23Z")
I seem to recall Carl’s Jr buying Hardees a few decades ago. So I think they started off as different companies, and when they merged, they kept the familiar brand names in each area. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/3 "2014-09-16T13:36:51Z")
Pretty sure this is it too. Hardee’s was bought by the same company that owns Carl’s Jr. in 1997, at which time the chain was well-established in the midwest and south, while Carl’s Jr. was more of a western state thing. So I imagine they’re just keeping the original brand areas, based on what part of the country a particular market is considered to be in. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/4 "2014-09-16T13:50:15Z")
> **[Hardee's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardee's#Company_profile)** > > Hardee's Restaurants LLC is an American fast-food restaurant chain operated by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. ("CKE") with locations primarily in the Southern and Midwestern United States. The company has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960 in North Carolina. > In April 1997, CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Carl's Jr., paid $327 million to Montreal-based Imasco Limited for Hardee's. The merger created a chain of 3,828 restaurants –... > [@](#): > > In 1997, having contracted to fewer than 2000 locations, the Hardee’s chain was acquired by CKE Restaurants, the parent company of the Carl’s Jr. fast-food restaurant chain (Imasco retained the few remaining Roy Rogers locations until 2003, at which time the trademark and franchise system were reportedly purchased by Frederick, Maryland-based Plamondon Enterprises.)[11] Over time, some Hardee’s restaurants were converted to serve Carl’s Jr. products and use the Carl’s Jr. star logo. Some locations were rebranded Carl’s Jr. - that was a year after Wendy’s and Tim Hortons purchased most of the Hardee’s stores in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/5 "2014-09-16T14:03:51Z")
Same is true of Checkers, Schucks and Kragen auto parts store. One chain, identical “checkered flag” identity and look, three names for three regions. Not sure which one was original but the other two were acquired and re-imaged under the existing and familiar names. Smart move. A brand freshening gains customers; a renaming often drives them away. Compare and contrast with the idiotic decisions of Netflix in recent years… ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/6 "2014-09-16T14:11:39Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Same is true of Checkers, Schucks and Kragen auto parts store. One chain, identical “checkered flag” identity and look, three names for three regions. Not sure which one was original but the other two were acquired and re-imaged under the existing and familiar names. Well, until all three were bought by O’Reilly and all existing locations were rebranded. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/7 "2014-09-16T14:29:51Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Why are these split the way they are? > > I know that in the north you’ll find Hardees and Rally’s, and the south they’ll be Carl’s Jr and Checkers, but why are they split in the first place when they’re literally the same restaurant? I live in NY and have never seen a Rally’s. Checkers are now all over the place with their nasty-assed mayo burgers. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/8 "2014-09-16T14:51:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Well, until all three were bought by O’Reilly and all existing locations were rebranded. Really? I haven’t seen any of them since leaving California (Kragen territory). Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/9 "2014-09-16T15:01:33Z")
I think it was my first time in New Orleans that we got food from Rally’s. Maybe it was the second. (We were making films, and the schedule was brutal.) Pretty good burgers, especially for the price. When one opened up a few blocks from my apartment in L.A., across Venice from Culver City, I had it again. Not the best burgers, but pretty good and cheap. But I preferred the burgers at Carl’s Jr. and Del Taco. (Yes, sometimes I’d get a burger at Del Taco.) Speaking of Del Taco, one of my favourite fast food places in my late-teens and 20s was [Naugles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKABF67BLuY). Naugles was bought out by Del Taco. Fortunately, they kept some good parts of the Naugles menu. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/10 "2014-09-16T15:09:27Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I live in NY and have never seen a Rally’s. Checkers are now all over the place with their nasty-assed mayo burgers. It’s also Checkers in Illinois. Used to love them, but it’s hard to find them anymore. Their big push in the Chicago market, at least, was some time in the early 90s. There used to be a bunch of locations, but now I can only think of one (although supposedly there are three total in the Chicago area, according to their store locator.) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/11 "2014-09-16T15:12:38Z")
There’s also the weird Bob’s Big Boy/Shonee’s Big Boy divide. Do they still exist? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/12 "2014-09-16T15:14:45Z")
I think OP has it backwards. They have Checkers here in NYC/vicinity; we had Rallys in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/13 "2014-09-16T15:38:27Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It’s also Checkers in Illinois. Used to love them, but it’s hard to find them anymore. Their big push in the Chicago market, at least, was some time in the early 90s. There used to be a bunch of locations, but now I can only think of one (although supposedly there are three total in the Chicago area, according to their store locator.) Actually, I spoke too soon. Apparently, Illinois also has Rally’s, so it looks like we’re a state with both Checkers and Rally’s. Indiana has Rally’s, as does Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/14 "2014-09-16T15:47:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Speaking of Del Taco, one of my favourite fast food places in my late-teens and 20s was [Naugles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKABF67BLuY). Naugles was bought out by Del Taco. Fortunately, they kept some good parts of the Naugles menu. There was a Naugles just off campus when I was in high school. Loved their refried beans. The only problem I had with the chain was how to pronounce it without sounding stupid. Del Taco actually makes a pretty good burger. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/15 "2014-09-16T15:48:44Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > There’s also the weird Bob’s Big Boy/Shonee’s Big Boy divide. Do they still exist? When I was a kid my family traveled by car from California to Massachusetts, and we noticed lots of “Big Boy” restaurants across the country. They all had the same menu, the same mascot, but different names. It was always “Bob’s” in California, and I recall “Shoney’s” and “Frisch’s.” Were there any more? I always wondered if they were franchised or owned by different family members or what. Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/16 "2014-09-16T15:56:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Del Taco actually makes a pretty good burger. Huh. I wish I had known that during the approximately five minutes a few years ago there was a Del Taco here in the Chicago area. I did manage to try (and enjoy) their fish tacos, though. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/17 "2014-09-16T15:57:42Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > There was a Naugles just off campus when I was in high school. Loved their refried beans. The only problem I had with the chain was how to pronounce it without sounding stupid. The wife of a friend of mine said it like a whinnying horse. ‘Na-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-gles!’ ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/18 "2014-09-16T16:31:06Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The wife of a friend of mine said it like a whinnying horse. ‘Na-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-gles!’ So, It’s safe to assume that you shot her, right? 🆒 Checkers here in Georgia, but there used to be Rallys in Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/19 "2014-09-16T16:54:15Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I think OP has it backwards. They have Checkers here in NYC/vicinity; we had Rallys in Virginia. I had Rally’s in the midwest, and then saw Checkers when I was in Alabama/Florida. I also think I was just told by “them” that it was a north/south thing ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649/20 "2014-09-16T18:29:08Z")
In the 80s, Rally’s was here in Arizona for a brief time. I loved their fries. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hardees-carls-jr-rallys-checkers-why/698649.md?page=2)