After a hiatus of over four decades, the well-known 24-hour fast-food restaurant Jack in the Box is set to make a significant comeback in Florida.
Last year, the chain marked its re-entry into the state, and on Monday, the California-headquartered company unveiled plans to open five new franchises in Tallahassee and an additional ten in Orlando.
Tim Linderman, Chief Development Officer at Jack in the Box, expressed his enthusiasm about the expansion. “Expanding into Florida, one of the largest and most rapidly growing states, fits perfectly with our strategic goals for the Southeast,” he stated. “We are excited to introduce our iconic brand to Tallahasheans and to increase our footprint in Orlando.”
Jack in the Box is recognized for its diverse and frequently updated menu, attention-grabbing commercials, and its distinctive mascot with a ping-pong-ball head. While the brand has predominantly been a fixture on the West Coast, it is now looking to broaden its reach.
Before visiting one of their locations, here’s an interesting tidbit about the company’s historical contributions to fast food: Jack in the Box and its founder, Robert O. Peterson, played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the drive-thru experience.
According to Mashed, in the 1940s, Peterson operated two small restaurant chains in San Diego, named Topsy’s and Oscar’s, where service was provided by carhops who would take orders at each car. Inspired by a 1940s visit to Chatterbox, a pioneering Alaskan restaurant that used a two-way intercom system for direct orders to the kitchen, Peterson decided to innovate. He acquired the rights to this system and transformed one of his Topsy’s locations into the first Jack in the Box in 1951. This establishment became the first fast-food restaurant to use such a system, setting a new standard for the industry, as noted by History.com.
As Jack in the blox expands its reach, both potential patrons and fast-food enthusiasts in Florida can look forward to experiencing its unique offerings firsthand.