Carl’s Jr opening: US burger giant swamped with fans at Bateau Bay store

WITH the added enticement of free food for the first 50 punters, customers have queued for up to two days to be first in line to try US burger giant Carl’s Jnr offerings.

• Sydney model at centre of controversial Carl’s Jr ad

AMERICAN burger giant Carl’s Jr has been swamped with customers at the opening of its first store Down Under.

With the added enticement of free food for the first 50 punters, some customers queued for up to two days for the opening of the Bateau Bay store on the Central Coast.

To rub salt into the wounds of rival McDonald’s, the queue to taste the jumbo-sized premium burgers stretched back to the drive-through of the neighbouring golden arches.

First through the doors at 10am — and one of 50 to receive a book of vouchers for a year’s free food — was Novocastrian Matt Elsey.

Customers queue outside Australia’s first Carl's Jnr outlet at Bateau Bay. Picture: Troy Snook

Tahlia Eaton, Sarah Madden, and Taelah Goodman, tuck into a burger at Carl's Jnr. Picture: Troy Snook

The 41-year-old had been on a virtual 40-hour famine as he camped out the store since Sunday night. He received a “No.1 Carl’s Jr T-shirt” moments before he walked in.

Then, after being kept waiting for 10 minutes as the media scrum and company officials took photos, he finally tucked into a calorie-packed Famous Star burger.

Verdict?

“It’s very, very good. I’m starting at the bottom and working my way up to the top. But it’s hitting the spot,” Mr Elsey said.

Kurtis Vaughan, 15, and Matt Elsley, 41, prepare to tuck into the burgers at Carl's Jnr. Picture: Troy Snook

He dined with the second man through the doors, Peter Wilding, who crossed the Tasman for the bumper opening day.

Asked what his Original burger was like compared to a Maccas burger, the 27-year-old Kiwi said: “It doesn’t compare. This is like a Rolls Royce versus a Toyota Corolla.”

Franchise owner Lindsay Brennan said he was “blown away” by the massive turnout.

“It’s huge,” Mr Brennan, of the BKG Group (owners of BYO Cellars bottleshops), said.

“There has been a big buzz around Carl’s Jr since the Express and Telegraph did stories last year, but this is amazing.”

Maxine Midson of Long Jetty with daughter Kayleigh Baxter, 5, in the queue on the first day of business for the first Carl's Jnr in Australia. Picture: Troy Snook

Known for its big burgers, bottomless drinks and raunchy advertising featuring bikini-clad models, the store which cost $2 million to set up, will employ about 80 staff and use mainly Australian produce.

Carl’s Jr, which already operates in more than 30 countries, has a huge expansion plan for Australia with its high calorie burgers marketed towards 18-35 year-old males.

However the burger giant’s arrival has not been without controversy.

Advocacy groups have slammed its as advertising “exploitative” and “degrading” to women while The Cancer Council NSW has flagged concerns over the excess kilojoule count of the burgers and the launch of the store in an area with high obesity levels.

A Carl’s Jr TV ad featuring model Gemie Howe has drawn fire, with more than 20 complaints made to Australian Standards Board. Running through the Big Bash cricket series on Channel 10, it shows Ms Howe pulling out a burger from a Carl’s Jr bag in between her legs.

“The Carl’s Jr brand is fun and it will obviously stir things up,” Ms Howe, who is also a model with V8 Supercars, said.

Asked what her favourite burger was, the 25-year-old said: “We shot the TV ad with the Western Bacon burger and that was pretty good.

“And then on Sunday I tried the chicken burger, which was even better. I’m a big fan of burgers and these really hit the spot for me.”

The Carl’s Jr burgers wouldn’t be out of place in a Man v. Food episode.

No.1 gun: Novocastrian Matt Elsey, 41, is the first person through the doors, earning himself a year's free food, on the opening day of Carl's Jr at Bateau Bay.

Its signature Original Six Dollar Burger weighs in with an imposing 830 calories and 52g of fat, easily gobbling up Maccas’ Big Mac (493 calories, 26.9g fat) and the Hungry Jack’s Whopper burger (689 calories, 40.1g fat).

Taking it up a notch is the Western Bacon Thickburger which tips the scales with a heavy-duty 1090 calories and 69g of fat.

For the average 35-year-old man, this burger alone would represent nearly half of the recommended daily calorie count.

Several in line at the store’s opening day had travelled from Sydney and the Hunter Valley.

Mum and son Yvonne and Adam Lea drove just over an hour from Singleton to Bateau Bay for the opening of Carl's Jr on the Central Coast.

Mum and son Yvonne and Adam Lea said the hour-long drive from Singleton was worth it after they dined on burgers and chips.

“I had the Portobello Mushroom burger and it was very yummy,” Ms Lea said. “I’ve eaten Carl’s Jr in America and this is good as what you get there.”

Adam added: “I had the Original Thickburger and it was a good as any burger I’ve ever had.”

Brianne Durso, of The Entrance, Shaye Lawson, of Shelly Beach, and Tom Casey, of Wamberal, give the thumbs-up to Carl's Jr's burgers on the opening day.

Brianna Durso, of The Entrance, and five of her friends gave the burgers the big thumbs up.

“As you can see, we’re all enjoying the food,” Ms Durso said.

Tom Casey, of Wamberal, said he was ready for seconds.

“I’ll give it a go; it’s all going down a treat,” Mr Casey said.

Paul Wilding, of New Zealand, and Matt Elsey, of Newcastle, in the middle of the lead pack in the queue to enter Carl's Jr for its opening day.

Western X-Tra Bacon Thickburger from US burger chain Carl's Jnr.