Carl’s Jr. in the Lloyd District?
Carl's Jr. Bus Bench Ad in Lloyd District
There is a McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and Taco Bell in the Lloyd District. If we had a Kentucky Fried Chicken, we’d probably have the top five fast food restaurants in America (Popeye’s isn’t in the top five).
That’s not why I’m writing. I’m writing because the other day I saw an ad for Carl’s Jr. on the back of a bus bench in the Lloyd District. The closest Carl’s I remember seeing is in Hopkinsville.
Actually, the name of the city isn’t “Hopkinsville.” That’s in Kentucky. But the city does begin with an “H.” Hang on…
…Hillsboro.
For some reason, I have a mental block and can never remember, “Hillsboro” (apologies to anyone that lives in Hillsboro). In Portland, there is a Carl’s across the Willamette River at 5th and Taylor, downtown, two miles away. There are several four and six miles further east, on this side of the river.
Why advertise on a bus bench when the closest Carl’s is so far away? Don’t get me wrong, I love Carl’s ads on television. One ad has a great tag line: “Without Carl’s, some guys would starve.” They have ads with gorgeous girls in revealing swinsuits and I’m pretty sure they have one with a guy in a swimsuit.
They have great ads.
However, the bus bench was in the Lloyd District, located at the corner of Weidler & 15th, in front of D’Arte’s Coffee. There are no Carl’s restaurants in the Lloyd District.
It seemed like mis-spent money.
Carl’s is important because before McDonald’s and Burger King had premium burgers, Carl’s promoted the six dollar burger, their premium burger. It wasn’t called the six dollar burger because it cost six dollars – it was like a sit down restaurant’s burger that cost six dollars. That should probably be eight or nine dollars now (inflation has run rampant in food costs). Plus, they focus on chicken a lot more than other burger chains.
I like the pickles on an inexpensive burger better than the fancy pickles.
Right now Carl’s is pushing their Aloha Burger (I mean their Teriyaki Burger). I still prefer the Western Bacon Cheeseburger.
There aren’t any Carls’ in walking distance.
Darn.