The golden star has dimmed on Real Road: Carl’s Jr. is closing its doors after 49 years in business. For nearly half a century, this Bakersfield staple has been serving students and locals alike. However, the location at 815 Real Road has officially turned off its lights for the last time. The closure of this restaurant marks the end of a long historic run on the corner of California Ave.
Many people remember the restaurant for their burgers. It is impossible to forget the turbulence the location has had throughout the years. Most notably, the restaurant made major headlines in October 2015 when it was abruptly shut down by the Kern County Environmental Health Services due to a severe cockroach infestation. The location stayed closed until corporate management inspected the issue and solved the problem.
While the location bounced back from the fiasco, the restaurant couldn’t outrun the financial pressures of the modern food industry across Bakersfield. Ultimately, corporate Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings sealed the fate for the joint…