Popular fast food chain and McDonald's rival abruptly closes another location and says decision was

MAJOR fast food chain Hardees is abruptly closing a location in North Carolina, leaving many fans unsure where to go for their next biscuit craving. In Spruce Pine, North Carolina, customers had to say goodbye to their local Hardees last month.

MAJOR fast food chain Hardee’s is abruptly closing a location in North Carolina, leaving many fans unsure where to go for their next biscuit craving.

In Spruce Pine, North Carolina, customers had to say goodbye to their local Hardee’s last month.

The store officially closed on Thursday, August 31 after its lease expired.

The company confirmed the lease expiration was the reason for the closure, according to ABC 13.

“This decision was not made lightly and was driven by the expiration of our lease there,” the company said. 

“All employees have been offered new jobs at other locations. We appreciate the community’s patronage and have enjoyed serving guests throughout the years."

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However, earlier this summer, the same restaurant was investigated after a child ate there and was then treated for unknown medical reasons.

From May 30 to 31, the Hardee’s shut down entirely for a deep cleaning and examination by the Mitchell County Health Department.

The examination sent a variety of items to the state crime lab for analysis, but none of the testing revealed any harmful substances.

After this incident, Hardee’s management said all employees were retrained on proper food handling before reopening.

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MORE HARDEE’S NEWS

Hardee’s made headlines for something more positive when it unveiled its latest spicy menu item.

As part of its Nashville Hot lineup, guests can now enjoy Nashville Hot Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Tenders, and Chicken Biscuits.

"At Hardee's, we're all about offering the homestyle foods our guests crave. We're expanding our famous chicken lineup with just the right amount of spice," Hardee's director of brand marketing Mallory Jones said in a statement. "The flavors speak for themselves.”

"While there's a nod to our Tennessee headquarters, we know guests across the country will love this new flavor."

The chicken is marinated and fried before being mixed with a red cayenne pepper-based sauce.

However, Hardee’s has also closed other restaurant locations in recent weeks.

The store in Mandan, North Dakota, also closed its doors for the last time on Tuesday, September 5.

And a Hardee's location in Carthage, Missouri, abruptly closed on August 31.

It’s not clear why these locations shuttered, but one of the chain’s main franchisees filed for bankruptcy previously.

Summit Restaurant Holdings operated 145 Hardee's locations across several states including Florida, Alabama, Montana, and Georgia.

However, the franchisee has now closed 39 restaurants, and the rest have been purchased by High Bluff Capital, according to a press release.

MORE RESTAURANT CLOSURES

Hardee’s is one of many restaurant chains that have closed up shop recently.

Restaurants have dealt with changing market dynamics due to the coronavirus pandemic and inflation.

It’s a situation that has affected even the largest national chains.

For instance, famous sandwich chain Subway closed over 1,000 locations in recent years due to continuing financial struggles.

Burger King also shuttered 27 restaurants in these states: Minnesota, Utah, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska, and North Dakota

However, BK fans have even more to worry about as the chain said it plans to close another 400 underperforming stores this year.

Boston Market also said goodbye to customers in Howell, Massachusetts, Roseville, California, and Toms River, New Jersey.

While the restaurant chain at one time operated more than 1,000 restaurants, it has now been sued for $11.3million by food supplier US Foods for alleged unpaid bills.

Read More on The US Sun

Meanwhile, an upscale restaurant shut its doors in Phoenix, and now community members don’t know where to take their dates.

And a Sizzler restaurant closed in Boise, Idaho, after 30 years of serving the community.

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