The Hardee's restaurant on Wabash Avenue has shut down permanently. This closure is part of a larger trend, as several other Hardee locations across central Illinois have closed their doors.
Currently, the fast-food chain has not released a full list of all the stores closing. However, it's confirmed that the Hardee's in Chatham, located at 331 N. Main St., is one of the restaurants that will no longer be serving customers.
This series of closures marks a significant change in the fast-food scene in central Illinois. Customers who frequented these Hardee's locations now have to look elsewhere for their fast-food fix.
Hardee's Website Removes Virden, Champaign, Monticello Locations
In a significant update, Hardee's, a well-known fast-food chain, removed several restaurant locations from its website. This change affects the restaurants in Virden, Champaign, and Monticello, which are no longer listed on the site where customers typically search for nearby outlets.
Hardee's and Carl's Jr. operate under the umbrella of CKE Restaurants. This large fast-food corporation oversees more than 3,800 restaurants across 44 states in the U.S. and extends its reach to 35 countries worldwide, showing its global presence in the fast-food industry.
In terms of financial performance, CKE Restaurants has reported impressive figures. In 2024, the company achieved a revenue of $1.55 billion, according to data from RocketReach. This revenue reflects the vast scale and success of the company in the highly competitive fast-food market.
The recent closure of several Hardee's stores has raised questions about the impact on employment, with the exact number of affected jobs currently unclear. This development follows the shutdown of multiple Hardee's locations, leaving the extent of job losses uncertain.
Meanwhile, in Springfield, some Hardee's outlets continue to operate. These include the stores at 600 W. Jefferson St., 2501 Stevenson Drive, and the 1835 Sangamon Ave location.
These remaining locations represent the ongoing presence of Hardee's in the Springfield area despite the recent closures.
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Hardee's Confirms Closure of Several Statewide Locations
In a recent development this January 2024, Hardee's, a well-known fast-food chain, has officially confirmed the closure of several locations across the state. Beth Gerstenberger, the Director of Corporate Communications for CKE Restaurants, which owns Hardee's, conveyed the decision through an email.
In her statement, Gerstenberger expressed that the decision to close these locations was difficult. "This decision was not made lightly, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our guests," she said. She also emphasized the company's gratitude towards its customers: "We appreciate our communities' patronage and have enjoyed serving guests throughout the years."
Despite confirming the closures, the spokesperson did not provide a specific list of the affected locations. However, Gerstenberger encouraged customers to visit Hardee's website to find the nearest operating location.
This move indicates a shift in the company's operations, though details of the closures remain limited.
Hardee's online presence and the services offered through their app seem to be a mismatch. Although the company's website still lists several locations as operational, customers have reported an inability to order food online from these stores.
The locations in question include Champaign, Springfield at Wabash Ave., Chatham, Virden, and Monticello. This issue has come to light amidst recent news of store closures by fast-food chains.
Before these closings, Hardee's boasted a network of 98 outlets across the state. The current status of these locations raises questions about the extent of the closures and the future of Hardee's operations in the state.
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