Hardee’s

Hardee’s is a well-established quick-service restaurant chain known for its burgers, breakfast offerings, and fried chicken, with a particularly strong presence in the Southern and Midwestern United States. The company traces its roots back to 1960, when Wilber Hardee opened the first location in Greenville, North Carolina. Over the decades, Hardee’s grew rapidly through franchising and became a public company in the early 1960s. A defining moment in its history came in 1997, when it was acquired by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.—the parent company of Carl’s Jr.—which brought together two of the most recognizable brands in American fast food.

As of November 2025, Hardee’s operates 1,810 restaurants across the United States, with additional locations internationally. The brand’s U.S. footprint is concentrated in the Southeast, Midwest, Texas, and Florida, while its international expansion continues in select Middle Eastern and African markets through master franchise agreements. In recent years, Hardee’s has focused on growing its network by seeking new franchisees and real estate partners, prioritizing drive-thru and freestanding formats. The company is actively pursuing both new builds and conversions, leveraging its established operational model and strong regional brand recognition to support continued growth.

Hardee’s remains a subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, which manages both Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. as independent brands from its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. The brand’s longevity, flexible formats, and consistent expansion efforts make it a notable tenant for a variety of commercial real estate settings, especially in regions where it has built a loyal customer base and strong brand awareness.