Carl's Jr. plans Seattle expansion

BizJournals.com says that burger chain Carl's Jr. plans to bring its trademark smiling yellow star to the Seattle area next year. Owned by Carpinteria's CKE Restaurants, Carl's has only a handful of restaurants now in Washington, all on the eastern side of the state. That's about to change. Carl's franchisee Trani Food Group of Modesto, California plans two dozen stores around south Puget Sound over the next eight years.