Obituaries

Bernard Karcher, Brother of Carl's Jr. Founder, Dies at 87

Bernard Karcher was the first franchisee and opened restaurants in Riverside County.

Bernard Karcher, brother of Carl’s Jr. founder Carl Karcher, died last week of heart failure at the age of 87. Bernard Karcher’s company was the first franchisee of Carl’s Jr. restaurants and opened stores throughout Southern California, including 11 in Riverside County.

Karcher was born in Ohio but moved to Los Angeles in 1962 to work with the company his brother built into one of the largest fast food chains in the country. In 1984 he founded Bernard Karcher Investments with his wife, Joan, and opened the first Carl’s Jr. franchises in Corona and Norco.

BKI currently owns 25 Carl’s Jr. restaurants, including five in Temecula, four in Murrieta and two in Lake Elsinore, according to its website.

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