Community Corner
Return of Hardee's Brings Mixed Reaction in Plainfield
Hardee's also has plans for locations in Oswego, Yorkville.
Hardee's is back.
After leaving the area in the 1980s, the charbroiled burger chain is making a comeback: A new location recently opened in Bolingbrook, and another will open in a former Burger King this year on Route 59 in Plainfield. It's a sort of homecoming for the chain, which was the first fast-food restaurant in the village in the early '80s.
A former Yorkville Burger King is also slated to be transformed into a Hardee's, along with the former Taco Veloz restaurant in Oswego. No opening dates have been set.
But despite no shortage of fast-food options in Plainfield, some readers were happy to learn that Hardee's, home of the "Thickburger" and crispy curls, was coming back to the village. Others were less than thrilled to see Burger King replaced by another fast-food joint. Here's what some had to say on Facebook:
- Randi M: Whoo hoo! Love Hardee's!
- Bill B: Awesome. BK sucks.
- Robby B: Hardees Prolly Will Make More $$$ Then BK! & Give It A Year U see more hardees/carl jrs around like sonic is doing now!
- Bree H: Fake food replaced by fake food. What a concept....
- Chris H: They should've put in a Noodle & Co!
- Britt C: Wish it was Trader Joes!!!
- Cara E: Gross. Both disgusting.
- Kaitlyn G: I remember the old hardee's in Plainfield! It was nasty! Bring back Joyce Lee. They had the best crab rangoon.
- Fran B: We had hardee's before by St Mary's years ago. Why bring it back.
- David T: What!? BK is SO much better than Hardee's! ugh. great, another "smart" move from Plainfield.
Hardee's announced in October that it planned to expand in the suburban Chicago market, opening new stores Elk Grove Village and Midlothian in 2013. Long-range plans call for 35 new restaurants in the next seven years, according to a Chicago Sun-Times article.
The St. Louis-based company also plans to move to the northeastern part of the United States. Plans call for about 200 new stores in five years in the New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts markets, the story said.
The company also owns the Carl's Jr. fast-food restaurant chain.
Related:
- New McDonald's Opening Soon in Plainfield
- Fast-Food Restaurants Revamped: Plainfield Eateries to Get a New Look
- Hardee's to Replace Plainfield Burger King
What do you think? Are you glad to see the return of Hardee's, or would you prefer a fast food alternative?
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