The Curious Case of the Missing Carl's Jr.: A Houston Whodunit (Kinda)
Ah, Houston. A city of sprawling freeways, fierce football fans, and...well, it used to have a pretty decent selection of Carl's Jr. Remember those juicy, messy Famous Stars with their onion rings bigger than your head? Yeah, me too. But these days, finding a Carl's Jr. in Houston is about as likely as spotting Bigfoot riding a rodeo bull through Reliant Stadium (though that would be an epic sight, wouldn't it?).
So, what went down? Did Houstoners suddenly develop a refined palate for escargot and champagne? No way, Josef! The truth, as with most mysteries, is a little less dramatic (and a lot less delicious).
Franchise Frenzy: A Recipe for Disaster (Not the Burger Kind)
Back in the late 2000s, a group of investors, fueled by dreams of flame-broiled glory, decided to blanket Texas in Carl's Jr. franchises. Houston, ever the hospitable host, welcomed them with open arms (and empty stomachs). For a while, there were Carl's Jr.s popping up left and right. You couldn't swing a jalapeno popper without hitting a "Beyond Angus Thickburger" billboard.
But here's the thing: building a burger empire takes more than just a good marketing team. Apparently, there were some franchise disagreements (the juicy details remain a mystery, much like the secret sauce recipe). By the mid-2010s, those Carl's Jr.s started disappearing faster than a free soda on a scorching Texas day.
The Great Carl's Jr. Migration: Where'd They All Go?
Now, some folks theorize that the Carl's Jr.s simply migrated south, like fashionable snowbirds escaping the Houston heat. This might explain the abundance of Carl's Jr.s in San Antonio, but it doesn't exactly fill the void left in the hearts (and stomachs) of Houston burger aficionados.
The Moral of the Story? There Isn't Really One, But Here's a Joke Anyway:
Why did the Carl's Jr. in Houston cross the road?
To get to a Whataburger, obviously.
(Seriously though, Whataburger probably had something to do with it, but that's a conspiracy theory for another day)
So there you have it, folks. The mystery of the missing Carl's Jr. A cautionary tale of franchise folly and a testament to the enduring love affair between Houston and a good ol' Whataburger. But hey, if you ever find yourself craving a Famous Star and happen to stumble upon a time machine, well, that's your business.
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