By Ella McGalliard

Hawkinsville Hardee’s Remains Closed Following Nationwide Franchise Dispute

A familiar staple on Broad Street is dark, and Hawkinsville residents are left without answers.

The Hardee’s restaurant at 341 Broad St. in Hawkinsville remains closed following a legal dispute between the chain’s corporate owner and a private equity firm that operated the location. For many in Pulaski County, the closure means more than just the loss of a meal — it means the loss of a longtime community gathering spot.

The restaurant closed in December 2025 as part of a nationwide shutdown of 77 Hardee’s locations operated by ARC Burger LLC, a company owned by San Diego-based High Bluff Capital Partners. ARC Burger held the franchise rights to operate the Hawkinsville location along with 34 other Georgia Hardee’s restaurants — making Georgia the hardest hit state in the dispute.

Pictured: A sign placed on the drive thru window at Hawkinsville’s location reading: “To our community, Thank you for being loyal guests and for allowing us to be part of this community. Unfortunately, this location has been closed and will remain closed until further notice. We appreciate your patronage over the years.”

CKE Restaurants LLC, the company that owns the Hardee’s brand, filed a federal lawsuit against ARC Burger in November 2025, alleging the franchisee owes more than $6.5 million in unpaid royalties, rent and fees. According to court documents, ARC Burger stopped making payments in December 2024. The dispute had nothing to do with the performance of the Hawkinsville location itself.

“These closures are a result of ARC Burger’s failure to cure its defaults under its franchise agreements, despite solid sales and our continued attempts over the course of many months to reach a resolution that would keep these restaurants open,” CKE spokesperson Beth Gerstenberger said in a statement to media.

In other words, the people of Hawkinsville didn’t lose their Hardee’s because business was bad. They lost it because of a financial dispute between two companies — one in San Diego and one in Atlanta — that had nothing to do with this community.

ARC Burger and High Bluff Capital Partners have not responded to requests for comment.

As of February 2026, the Hawkinsville location remains listed as temporarily closed on the Hardee’s corporate website. No reopening date has been announced. CKE has indicated it is working to find a path forward for closed locations, though no specific plans for the Hawkinsville restaurant have been made public.

The federal lawsuit remains active in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, case No. 3:2025cv01359.