For those who might have not heard, the burger chain Hardee’s is returning to New Jersey in a multi-state expansion that could add up to at least 200 stores (with hopes for 1,000) throughout the Northeast. A big focus of this expansion will be in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Hardee’s chain is known for being one of the many chains that left the state in the 19080s, along with Ponderosa Steakhouse (which continues to struggle, but still persists.)
For those who remember a Hardee’s in the 1970s and early 1980s, when it had the logo of the capital letters stretched across, that logo is long gone from the ones you will see enter New Jersey. In 1996, the struggling chain was bought by CKE Restaurants, the company that owns the western burger joint Carl’s Jr. In 1999, the chain retired the cool logo that Hardee’s had for the same one that Carl’s Jr. has, the name in mixed case with the star from Carl’s Jr. at the far left.
I personally got to have my first Hardee’s on July 12, 2013 (remember, I am only 22, so naturally I wasn’t around when Hardee’s existed in New Jersey.) at the Gene Stratton Porter Service Area (Howe, IN) on the Indiana Toll Road (Interstates 80 and 90) about 60 miles east of South Bend. The burgers we got were downright excellent for a burger chain I’ve not had before. They have thick angus beef burgers for their meat and seeded buns instead of the cheap buns at other joints. The burgers I had in general had more pop than other fast food burgers I’ve had.
This expansion of Hardee’s is just the latest in a massive expansion of chain stores through New Jersey, which used to be slender. I remember the times when Sonic would air advertisements on national televisions and there would be none around to go eat at. I had my first Sonic in October 2005 in Salt Lake City, Utah! Now, everywhere you look, NJ 72 in Manahawkin, US 46 at NJ 62 in Wayne, US 1 in Edison, you see a Sonic Drive-In because they expanded to the point where it has become a commonplace chain.
Other chains have begun to appear in New Jersey, including the Midwest sub chain and NASCAR sponsor Jimmy John’s. Jimmy John’s is a sandwich chain, which opened its original New Jersey location on Easton Avenue (CR 527) in New Brunswick. JJ’s is excellent; they make subs by hand and are usually larger than anything Subway would ever produce and give you a full pickle. Another burger chain that has come out of nowhere in New Jersey is Jake’s Wayback Burgers. Jake’s is a small franchise-based chain that started in 1991, but is fast expanding in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They offer great burgers, which are wrapped in wrappers of various newspaper articles about Jake’s. They serve excellent onion rings rather than French fries, which are actually given to you in a soda cup.
So, with Hardee’s, Jake’s and Jimmy John’s finally opening territory in New Jersey, what could be next? Well, Golden Corral, which also advertises nationally has 5 New Jersey locations, with a 6th opening in Freehold sometime in 2014. Right now the closest is in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on State Route 132 (also known as Street Road), not the ones in Jersey. Could we see in the future an expansion of the chain Waffle House, which has many stores around the country, and provides great breakfast food? I personally would not mind it, because it would make a great business. And why stop at just chain restaurants? For people who know me, I am a big fan of the Altoona, Pennsylvania-based gas station/convenience store chain Sheetz. Sure we have Wawa and Quick Chek here, but with Hess announcing that they are abandoned the gasoline retail business, this would be the time for Sheetz to come in and announce they would expand.
A person can dream right? I once walked into Quick Chek, wearing a Wawa shirt and having MySheetzCard in my wallet. That tells you what kind of chain freak I am.
