This week the Geneseo Hardee’s closed it’s doors. Believe it or not, the restaurant has been open for more than fifty years.

In March 1st, 1972, Sandy’s Restaurant opened it’s doors. It was located off Route 82 South in Geneseo, at the same location where Hardee’s is today.

Of course, this is all prior to McDonald’s opening their Geneseo location. The image below shows what our Hardee’s would have looked like at the time.

In late April of 1973, the Sandy’s chain of restaurants was purchased by Hardee’s Corporation. The Geneseo location was a franchise and was owned by George Kutsunis and others.

In 1997, Carls Jr. Corporation purchased Hardee’s for $327 million dollars. The image below notes the aesthetic and branding change the restaurants received.

Due to legal disputes and bankruptcy issues, many Hardee’s locations are closing across the South and the Midwest.