The gravy train is picking up steam again at Hardee’s. 

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.

Newly reopened Hardee’s restaurants in at least three states—Georgia, South Carolina, and Missouri—are being described in job listings as “now corporate owned,” according to recent ads posted on Indeed.com and SimplyHired.

They share addresses with Hardee’s restaurants formerly operated by franchisee ARC Burger, whose 77 locations shuttered in December 2025.

Some of the listings are marked as “urgent.”

Reached for comment by Fast Company, a spokesperson for Hardee’s Restaurants confirmed the reopenings and said more are on the horizon.

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

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.

“We understand the important role these restaurants play in the neighborhoods they serve and are pleased to be bringing Hardee’s back to these local communities,” the company said.

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

What happened to ARC Burger?

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.

Last year, Hardee’s 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 early termination of ACR Burger’s franchise agreement.

In response to the lawsuit, which is still ongoing, the franchisee blasted Hardee’s for what it described as “a series of sharp practices and underhanded tactics,” including allegedly neglecting to disclose that certain restaurants had suffered from dilapidated conditions, such as faulty fryers, sagging ceilings, and nonfunctional HVAC units. 

It also accused Hardee’s 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—and that it was forced to spend north of $10 million to keep the business solvent.

“Now, rather than take responsibility for hamstringing the Restaurants’ ability to succeed, Hardee’s seeks to continue exploiting ARC through this lawsuit,” lawyers for the franchisee wrote.

Fast Company reached out to ARC Burger for comment.

What happened to ARC Burger’s locations?

ARC Burger’s 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.

At the time the lawsuit was filed, the franchisee owned restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

Now at least some of those restaurants have been reopened under corporate ownership.

Which Hardee’s locations have reopened?

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

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

Georgia

• 624 North Church Street, Thomaston, GA 30286
• 1204 Turner McCall Blvd SE, Rome, GA 30161
• 350 General Daniel Avenue North, Danielsville, GA 30633
• 2154 Franklin Parkway, Franklin, GA 30217
• 1208 Industrial Boulevard, East Ellijay, GA 30540

Missouri

• 702 N Franklin St, Cuba, MO 65453

South Carolina

• 422 N Hwy 52, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
• 503 N Jefferies Blvd, Walterboro, SC 29488
• 1402 N Main St., Summerville, SC 29483
• 201 N Goose Creek Blvd., Goose Creek, SC 29445

Troubled times for franchisees 

With operating costs ballooning and foot traffic spotty, the franchise model appears to be increasingly under strain this year for some well-known restaurant chains.

Franchisees for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Subway, Applebee’s, and Firehouse Subs have all sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in just the last few months.

CKE Restaurants is not immune to this trend. Earlier this month, a franchisee that owns 65 Carl’s Jr. locations in California filed for bankruptcy, although it has not announced any resulting closures as of yet.  

This story is developing and could be updated…