After 75 years, Jack in the Box still has a head for business

"You can't blame Jack Box for being bigheaded. Jack in the Box, home of the ping pong ball-shaped mascot, turns 75 this week on Saturday, Feb. 21. The first restaurant opened on Feb. 21, 1951 at 6270 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego, near San Diego State University. It was founded by a former undergraduate, Robert O. Peterson. The chain has grown to about 2,135 restaurants in 21 states, according to a recent news release, but remains based in San Diego."

"Its headquarters are off the I-15 Freeway, a few miles north of the original restaurant. A timeline showcasing Jack in the Box's history ends with the chain's 75th anniversary at its headquarters on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 in San Diego, (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Southern California was a hotbed of creativity when it came to fast food in the second half of the 20th century. Jack in the Box's claim to fame was pioneering the drive-thru, a feat that won it a place in the Smithsonian Museum of American History."

"Like Ray Kroc of McDonald's fame, Robert O. Peterson spent time as a milkshake mixer salesman before hitting it big, according to his obituaries. Kroc became famous, Peterson less so. Born in 1916, he was not a very public person but he made his presence felt. As an undergraduate in the 1930s, he founded the Collegiate Club, which put on dances at Balboa Park."

Jack in the Box opened its first restaurant on Feb. 21, 1951 at 6270 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego near San Diego State University. The chain was founded by Robert O. Peterson, a former undergraduate who earlier operated a drive-in called Oscar's. The company grew to about 2,135 restaurants in 21 states while keeping its headquarters in San Diego near the I-15 Freeway. Jack in the Box pioneered the drive-thru and earned recognition from the Smithsonian Museum of American History. The brand emphasized innovation in menu items, advertising campaigns, and tacos. A 75th-anniversary timeline and celebration marked the milestone in February 2026.

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