Carl’s Jr Toowoomba restaurant progress slow after lead Australian franchisee’s collapse

The removal of branded signage around the site of a future fast food restaurant in Toowoomba has fuelled speculation the dream is dead. Now the man responsible for building it has set the record straight:

Carl's Jr FB

Toowoomba is reportedly still getting a Carl’s Jr restaurant, but on a much slower time frame as the company attempts to pivot following the collapse of its main Australian franchisee.

Local developer and former McDonald’s franchisee Keith Beer said he and his nephew David were still on track to deliver the city’s first outlet for the US burger chain.

It comes after signage for Carl’s Jr at designated site on Bridge Street in Wilsonton was pulled down, fuelling speculation the company was cutting its losses after Melbourne-based CJ’s Group (which controlled 20 stores) went into administration back in August.

Keith Beer. Photo: Bev Lacey / The Chronicle

Another 25 independently-owned locations across Australia were unaffected by the collapse and Mr Beer said the removal of the Toowoomba signage did not mean plans had been scrapped.

“It hasn’t been abandoned, it’s just been put on the backburner for now while (Carl’s Jr) work some things out,” he said.

Mr Beer said US representatives from the parent company were in the process of training a new central Australian team, causing the shifting time frames.

“They are going at a snail’s pace — David spoke with them and they’re still keen to go ahead but he wants more certainties because he’s leasing with them directly,” he said.

“It’s taking time to put together the marketing and training and promotional work (so) David thought he’d just take the signage down and leave the fencing up.

“I told him I was still happy to build the place, but I urged him to be 100 per cent happy with the leasing agreement.

“They said they were keeping all franchisee offers open until 2026.”

If it does get built, Carl’s Jr would solidify the area around Wilsonton Shopping Centre as Toowoomba’s top fast food precinct.

Franchises already in the vicinity include McDonald’s, Hungry Jack’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Red Rooster, Super Rooster, Subway and (most recently) Guzman Y Gomez.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.