Renovations to expand Carl's Jr.

By Jenny Goldberg-Aden
Staff Writer

Carl's Jr., the fast-food restaurant located behind the Student Union, will be renovated to include four additional registers and more space, in an effort to handle more customers and decrease wait times, said Philip Chiaramonte, associate vice president of Auxiliary Services.
Renovations are tentatively scheduled for late December or next August, Chiaramonte said. Carl's Jr. may be closed, but Chiaramonte said organizers are trying to pick a time most advantageous for customers.
The lobby and express window areas will be enlarged after workers remove and expand the walls. Inside seating will not be available, but Chiaramonte said there are plans to add more seating in the area behind the restaurant in the future.
"The only thing I'd say that's kind of bothersome about (Carl's Jr.) is that sometimes they're understaffed and it takes a good 15 minutes before they take your order and then it takes awhile to get it, " said Tom Sire, a freshman majoring in business.
"We are basically trying to make the Carl's Jr. more student-friendly so you hopefully don't have to wait in line as long," said Michael Gratz, director of Hospitality Services.
The Carl's Jr. on campus recently won the Franchise of the Year award, which was in competition with about 450 other Carl's Jr. franchises, Gratz said.
Gratz said administrators are also discussing other options for the eating establishment, including the possibility of offering free drink refills during certain times of the day.
"At the real Carl's Jr.'s, they have beverage bars and you can get as much as you want," said Sue Song, a freshman majoring in accounting.
Gratz also said Carl's Jr. may offer a few menu changes in the future, but the present menu will be the same after renovations.
Gratz said that they are working on a form of protection or shelter for the outside, without losing the outdoor feeling, similar to the canopy that goes up over the area when it is raining.
Kelly Kerman, a senior majoring in communications, said she does not want inside seating.
"(Outside seating) is fine," Kerman said. "I like how it is. It's nicer outside. Maybe (we need) more umbrellas and another express window on the other side for the combos because the lunch lines are really long."