Meet Hardee's East
Hardees East offers the best of two worlds: the high quality menu offerings, relaxing atmosphere and table delivery service offered at eat-in family restaurants and fast-food prices.
“We offer 100% Angus beef burgers, milk shakes made with real ice cream, chicken tenders hand-breaded right here, natural cut fries, and biscuits made from scratch,” says Bryan Harms, co-owner of the franchise restaurant that has been on the corner of 30th and Broadway since 1959. “Nothing is made until you order it, so our food is really fresh and hot. We have lounge chairs, a fire place, big screen televisions and wireless Internet service. For many customers, our restaurant is a destination place to meet with friends on a regular basis or for businesspeople who need to decompress in the middle of a busy day.”
Hardee’s can trace its roots in Quincy back to 1959 to a small burger shop called Sandy’s, then owned by Tom Daly and Bernie Willer. Ownership changed hands when “Spike” Ehrhardt bought out one of the partners and again in 1999 when Harms became a partner. In 1972, Hardee’s purchased the Sandy’s brand name.
Wilber Hardee opened his first namesake restaurant in Greenville, NC, in 1960, and five months later, he had his first franchisee. In 2003, Hardee's decided to pare down its menu and focus on the hearty 1/3-, 1/2- and 2/3-pound Thickburger line. Today, Hardee's forges ahead with a taste for edgy, memorable advertising campaigns and delicious food.
“Our advertising campaigns target young males ages 18-34 and they like Thickburgers,” says Harms. “But men are certainly not our only customers. We have plenty of lighter fare, too, including chicken tenders, chicken fillet and club sandwiches, and wraps. We offer hot ham and cheese, chili dogs, fish, desserts, and breakfast. Our newest item is a turkey burger, which is less than 500 calories, for those customers who are more health conscious.”
The Hardee’s drive-thru is open 24 hours a day, and Harms says that 65 percent of his business is derived from that quick-service option. Feeding large groups is another surprisingly large portion of the business. Chicken wraps and chicken tenders in packages of 20 are often a favorite for office luncheons and can be ordered only hours before they are needed.
Hardee’s dining area is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday. More information can be found by visiting www.hardees.com and catering orders can be placed by calling Harms at 223-9572.
