{"id":10682,"date":"2026-04-13T23:40:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T23:40:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=10682"},"modified":"2026-04-13T23:40:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T23:40:29","slug":"hardees-is-reopening-dozens-of-restaurants-see-a-list-of-closed-locations-that-are-back-in-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildgreenquest.com\/?p=10682","title":{"rendered":"Hardee\u2019s is reopening dozens of restaurants: See a list of closed locations that are back in business"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The gravy train is picking up steam again at Hardee\u2019s. <\/p>\n

The Southern-inspired fast food chain has been quietly reopening locations across the Southeast after an explosive legal battle with a franchisee had led to dozens of store closures late last year.<\/p>\n

Newly reopened Hardee\u2019s restaurants in at least three states\u2014Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri\u2014are being described in job listings as \u201cnow corporate owned,\u201d according to recent ads posted on Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com.<\/p>\n

They share addresses with Hardee\u2019s restaurants formerly operated by franchisee ARC Burger, whose 77 locations shuttered in December 2025.<\/p>\n

Some of the listings are marked<\/a> as \u201curgent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reached for comment by Fast Company<\/em>, a spokesperson for Hardee’s Restaurants confirmed the reopenings and said more are on the horizon. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe are pleased to have recently reopened 15 locations in the Georgia, Missouri, and South Carolina markets as Hardee\u2019s corporate restaurants,” the spokesperson said. “This is part of a broader reopening strategy by which Hardee\u2019s expects to assume ownership and resume operations for more than 40 recently closed locations that were previously independently owned and operated by ARC Burger.<\/p>\n

The brand also says it is exploring options to reopen additional shuttered stores that weren’t part of the ARC portfolio, either as franchised or company-owned locations. <\/p>\n

“We understand the important role these restaurants play in the neighborhoods they serve and are pleased to be bringing Hardee\u2019s back to these local communities,\u201d the company said. <\/p>\n

Hardee\u2019s is owned by Tennessee-based CKE Restaurants Holdings, which also owns the Carl\u2019s Jr. fast-food chain. The privately held company does not routinely disclose financial results or data about what percentage of its restaurants are franchised.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What happened to ARC Burger?<\/h2>\n

ARC Burger was formed in 2023 by High Bluff Capital Partners, a private equity firm that also owns restaurant chains such as Quiznos and Taco Del Mar. <\/p>\n

Last year, Hardee\u2019s sued ARC Burger for allegedly failing to pay the restaurant chain $6.5 million in past-due franchise royalties, rent, and other fees, according to court documents. The chain also claimed to be owed more than $10.5 million in damages due to the early termination of ARC Burger’s franchise agreement.<\/p>\n

In response to the lawsuit, which is still ongoing, the franchisee blasted Hardee\u2019s for what it described as \u201ca series of sharp practices and underhanded tactics,\u201d including allegedly neglecting to disclose that certain restaurants had suffered from dilapidated conditions, such as faulty fryers, sagging ceilings, and nonfunctional HVAC units. <\/p>\n

It also accused Hardee\u2019s of failing to provide the technical and marketing support it needed to operate the franchise. Rather than owing Hardee’s millions of dollars, ARC contended that it overpaid for the rights to use the Hardee’s name\u2014and that it was forced to spend north of $10 million to keep the business stable.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, rather than take responsibility for hamstringing the restaurants\u2019 ability to succeed, Hardee\u2019s seeks to continue exploiting ARC through this lawsuit,\u201d lawyers for the franchisee wrote.<\/p>\n

Fast Company<\/em> reached out to ARC Burger for comment.<\/p>\n

What happened to ARC Burger’s locations?<\/h2>\n

ARC Burger\u2019s franchise agreement was terminated in September 2025 and its 77 restaurants were closed three months later, resulting in some 1,600 job losses right before the Christmas holiday, according to court documents.<\/p>\n

At the time the lawsuit was filed, the franchisee owned restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, and Wyoming.<\/p>\n

Now at least some of those restaurants have been reopened under corporate ownership.<\/p>\n

Which Hardee\u2019s locations have reopened?<\/h2>\n

Made-from-scratch biscuits are back in the oven at former ARC Burger locations in three states so far. A Hardee’s spokesperson said 15 such restaurants have recently reopened.<\/p>\n

Although a full list was not immediately available, Fast Company<\/em> identified the following former ARC locations that are now under corporate ownership and seeking to fill positions: <\/p>\n

Georgia<\/strong><\/p>\n