Original burger concept to open in fall 2026
By Lindsey Lam, March 24, 2026
Cal Poly Pomona Enterprises will replace the on-campus Carl’s Jr. with a new, original burger concept for fall 2026.
“We felt that with Carl’s Jr., it was time to retire that brand and refresh it,” said Enterprises’ interim CEO Thomas Sekayan. “We are in the business to serve, and if we are not hearing and addressing student needs, then we are not serving and failing our mission as an organization.”
To make way for the new restaurant, which will offer burgers, chicken tenders and other dietary food options, the Carl’s Jr. location will officially close at the end of the 2026 spring semester. Sekayan pledged students will be able to purchase a burger with a side of fries and a drink for $10 or less.
This change comes after a 2024 survey received about 2,000 student responses. Many students commented they wanted good food at an affordable price and quick. In a push to keep prices low, Enterprises will shift to an in-house, original burger restaurant that will focus on faster service.
“Just simplifying the menu and concentrating on the burger or the tender will speed up the service,” said Dining Director David Corral.
Additionally, Enterprises has been monitoring the CPP subreddit for the last two years, quietly addressing rising food costs and less-than fortunate customer experiences, according to Sekayan.
The departure of a chain followed by an original CPP concept is not new. Students were introduced to The Patio in the 2024-2025 academic year after the departure of the on-campus Round Table Pizza. By keeping dining options in-house, production costs and menu prices can stay low, according to Sekayan.
Enterprises initially asked for student input about the idea on a Reddit post in February, gaining more than 70 comments and three Reddit awards.
As of the time of publishing, Enterprises is currently building recipes for the burgers, according to Corral. The organization will also host a sampling session of the new burgers later this semester to gather more student feedback.
“The students are our shareholders, so we answer to you,” Sekayan said.
However, students are already buzzing with feedback.
Criminology student Diego Reyes hopes the burger restaurant will contain unique burger options, such as a teriyaki burger like the one from For the Win in his hometown Whittier.
“Affordability would also be a big thing to consider because there’s a lot of places that will charge like $20 or $25 for an overpriced burger,” Reyes said.
After he mentioned receiving greasy food, wrong orders and waiting long amounts of time at the on-campus Carl’s Jr., Reyes said he isn’t against replacing the chain with the new burger concept.
Computer science student Elsa Zheng is wary about Enterprises bringing an original burger spot to campus, due to the amount of time Choolaah, the new Indian grill restaurant, has taken to be renovated and opened.
Similar to Reyes, Zheng also faced frustrations with Carl’s Jr., once not receiving her food at all and having to file a complaint through Grubhub because the establishment was too busy to help her.
“I’m not that picky,” Zheng said. “I just want cheeseburgers that are quick and edible, and somewhere on the levels of Carl’s Jr. and McDonald’s.”
With the already limited options on campus, she wished there was a new cuisine in general, like a Greek place.
This new burger spot comes after the Instagram video of Sekayan eating a Centerpointe Dining Commons burger and announcing the dining hall will be revamping its burgers by March 31.
“This really is about involving students as thought partners to help us create a burger we all will appreciate that is affordable, good-tasting and quick,” Sekayan said.
Feature image courtesy of Lindsey Lam
