# Jack in the Box in Chicago? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2006, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383 "2006-05-19T06:55:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/21 "2010-05-24T16:26:38Z")
I’ve certainly never thought of them as anything but primarily a burger joint which makes occasional forays into other offerings, and I’m in CA, where they’re on every other street corner. Sometime in the 80s and early 90s they made an attempt to go upscale a notch - hung potted plants and so on. That didn’t stick. What surprises me is that I thought they had expanded enough to be one of the fast food chains with national presence. Apparently, they still haven’t gone that far east, except for a few states. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/22 "2010-05-24T16:37:37Z")
I’m a bit puzzled as to why there are no Hardeeses in Chicago. When I look at their [locations map](http://www.hardees.com/locations/), there’s a big conspicuous gap in the Chicago area. More generally, I guess I wonder why some fast food places are so ubiquitous in some areas and absent from others not far away. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/23 "2010-05-25T00:06:06Z")
Since this was a question on the Boards pre-Chicago forums, let’s move it there. **samclem** Moderator, GQ ---
**Author:** ![daveg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@daveg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daveg)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/24 "2010-05-25T22:24:12Z")
There was a Jack in the Box in Brookfield a bit west of the zoo on 31st street. Dunno what’s there now. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/25 "2010-05-25T23:42:19Z")
The first Jack-in-the-box drive-thru opened in the Chicago area in 1967-68. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/26 "2010-05-25T23:47:03Z")
By 1970, there was on downtown at 117 E. Chicago av. across from the Water Tower. Cheeseburger, 79 cens. Milkshake…34 cents. Onion rings 35 cents. Apple turnover 26 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/27 "2010-05-26T01:44:45Z")
Jack in the Box units east of the Mississippi (232 of them) were sold off beginning in 1979. Hardee’s is particularly curious because for a decade or more they actually had a Loop location, hidden away in the basement food court at 69 W. Washington. The nearest ones now are Montgomery and Portage, Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![cardinal\_fang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal_fang/32/15316_2.png) [@cardinal\_fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cardinal_fang)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/28 "2010-05-26T03:03:48Z")
> [@julius blaze](#): > > The Jack in the Box food poisonings were in Washington state in the early 90’s, was there also a rash of food poisonings in Chicago earlier? As an aside, Eric Schlosser claimed in _Fast Food Nation_ that after the [E-coli disaster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_in_the_Box_%28restaurant%29#E._coli_disaster) Jack in the Box implemented industry-leading safety measures and decried the fact that others haven’t followed suit. (The safest fast-food restaurant might be akin to the fastest fat man, but there you go nonetheless…) ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/29 "2010-05-31T02:53:16Z")
There WAS a Jack In The Box, in the Logan Square area, Fullerton & Kimball or thereabouts, when I lived in the 'hood 1974-45-ish. I would often stop there after doing my late-night radio show. Or stop at White Castle. We had a Brit staying with us, who always wanted to “Say hello to Jack!” Drive-thrus were quite the novelty to him. Alas, we have neither chain in Alaska. Why can’t somebody bring up a Sonic for US? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/30 "2010-06-01T01:26:44Z")
> [@peri](#): > > The local one was at Clark and Ridge. It was manned by the “Cockroach Lady,” so named because of her appearance. She stood about 4 feet tall in her 3 inch platform shoes and wore HUGE glasses - something like [this](http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy_fungames/images/eyeglasses.gif). Did that turn into the “Duck’s” joint that was there in the 80s and early 90s? I loved Duck’s burgers. Especially after being, ahem, overserved. I vaguely remember a Jack in the Box in the near western burbs, maybe around Mannheim and Butterfied? I was too young to drive at the time, so not sure of the exact location. ---
**Author:** ![Mornac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mornac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mornac)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/31 "2011-06-16T02:01:56Z")
> [@Jebus\_H.Christ](#): > > Did they serve tacos? Yes they did - and I liked them under certain inebriated conditions. When you ordered them (I always had mine five at a time) they took the pancake-thin product out of a freezer, placed them in a fry basket, and dropped 'em in the fryer for a few minutes. I never really thought about them as “tacos” but rather some sort of interesting snack food that seemed to hit the spot about one in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Mornac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mornac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mornac)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/32 "2011-06-16T02:11:05Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Did that turn into the “Duck’s” joint that was there in the 80s and early 90s. Indeed it did. It wasn’t a huge step up from the Jack-in-the-Box which was always privately owned and changed owners about as often as I change shirts. Each one was a bigger disappointment than his predecessor. Finally, the city brought the property, plowed the building under and made it an extension of Senn Park. Today there is a bronze statue of young Abraham Lincoln in the approximate location of the talking clown head. Whenever I walk by, I never fail to ask Honest Abe if I could have five tacos and a large root beer. ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/33 "2011-06-16T03:17:42Z")
> [@peri](#): > > The local one was at Clark and Ridge. It was manned by the “Cockroach Lady,” so named because of her appearance. She stood about 4 feet tall in her 3 inch platform shoes and wore HUGE glasses - something like [this](http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy_fungames/images/eyeglasses.gif). I’ll confirm that location, perhaps as early as 1969-70. ---
**Author:** ![Stormcrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/0ea827/32.png) [@Stormcrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stormcrow)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/34 "2011-06-16T13:45:17Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Hardee’s is particularly curious because for a decade or more they actually had a Loop location, hidden away in the basement food court at 69 W. Washington. The nearest ones now are Montgomery and Portage, Indiana. There was a Hardees on Route 83 in Elk Grove Village as well up till the early 2000’s. ---
**Author:** ![ScatteredFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@ScatteredFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScatteredFrog)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/35 "2011-06-16T16:14:00Z")
Clark and Ridge?? Perhaps in the same spot that White Castle occupies? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/36 "2011-06-16T16:23:43Z")
> [@Mr\_Downtown](#): > > Jack in the Box units east of the Mississippi (232 of them) were sold off beginning in 1979. > > Hardee’s is particularly curious because for a decade or more they actually had a Loop location, hidden away in the basement food court at 69 W. Washington. The nearest ones now are Montgomery and Portage, Indiana. Whew! I just saw the Hardee’s question, and my immediate reaction was, “What? The Hardees in Montgomery is gone?!” Nice to know it’s still hanging around … I knew that Hardees’ were pretty thin on the ground in Chicagoland, but I didn’t realize how thin. Maybe I’ll visit when I’m back up in Oswego in August. Turnaround on my dad for him always wanting to eat at Jack in the Box when he visits down here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/37 "2011-06-16T16:51:35Z")
> [@ScatteredFrog](#): > > Clark and Ridge?? Perhaps in the same spot that White Castle occupies? Across the intersection from there. See post #32. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/38 "2011-06-16T18:27:08Z")
I grew up on the south side and during high school ('71-'75) we went weekly to the Jack inthe Box on 104th and Western. Damn, those tacos were good! ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Jan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Silver\_Jan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Jan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/39 "2011-06-16T21:12:49Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > In the early 70’s, there were. > > And then, there were a horrible, ongoing series of food poisoning scandals there. > > And then, they closed. > > I remember it from my boyhood. > > Later, there were rumors that it was a whisper/slander campaign, by a bigger fast food chain. Unproven, as far as I know. And what if it was from your boyhood ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Jan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Silver\_Jan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Jan)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jack-in-the-box-in-chicago/357383/40 "2011-06-16T21:21:45Z")
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