Hardee’s is not closing nationwide, but one of its larger franchise operators has filed for bankruptcy after shutting more than 30 restaurants.
Superior Star LLC filed for Chapter 11 protection on July 9, 2026. It continues to operate 59 Hardee’s restaurants across 10 states, including 14 in Kentucky. No announcement says all 59 will close.
Hardee’s and its parent company, CKE Restaurants Holdings, have not filed for bankruptcy. The case affects only restaurants operated by Superior Star.
Superior Star bankruptcy details
- Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- Case number: 3:26-bk-31809
- Bankruptcy type: Chapter 11 reorganization
- Operating restaurants: 59
- Employees: Approximately 850
- 2025 gross revenue: Approximately $80 million
- Estimated assets and liabilities: $10 million to $50 million each
- Creditors: Between 1,000 and 5,000
Hardee’s said the filing reflects Superior Star’s specific financial and business circumstances. The chain said it remains focused on strengthening its wider restaurant system.
Full list of named Hardee’s closures
Superior Star said it closed more than 30 underperforming restaurants in 2025. Available documents identify these 30 locations:
- Illinois: Anna, Benton, Centralia, Danville, Marion, Mattoon, Ottawa, Paris and Springfield
- Minnesota: Fairmont, two Mankato restaurants, Marshall, Sleepy Eye and Willmar
- Iowa: Le Mars, two Sioux City restaurants and Spencer
- Kentucky: Elizabethtown, Louisville and Paducah
- Indiana: North Vernon and Madison
- Missouri: Fredericktown and Sikeston
- North Dakota: Fargo and West Fargo
- Ohio: Columbus and Middletown
These restaurants closed in 2025. They are not a new list of locations scheduled to close in 2026.
Where are the remaining restaurants?
Superior Star’s 59 operating restaurants are located across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Tennessee.
A verified address list for all 59 locations has not been released. Fourteen are in Kentucky, the largest disclosed concentration.
Why did the franchisee file for bankruptcy?
Superior Star blamed weaker demand, higher food costs, aging buildings, repair expenses, unpaid sales taxes and rent owed on already-closed restaurants. Tax levies on its bank accounts further restricted cash available for daily operations.
Although the company generated about $80 million in 2025 revenue, that figure is before expenses such as food, wages, leases, utilities, taxes, franchise fees and debt payments.
Superior Star acquired 103 Hardee’s restaurants from StarCorp LLC in December 2023 for a reported $13 million. It alleges that StarCorp failed to disclose deferred maintenance, unpaid taxes and other obligations that later cost millions of dollars.
The companies are also disputing a seller-financing obligation of approximately $7.04 million. StarCorp denies causing the bankruptcy and says Superior Star had an opportunity to inspect the restaurants. The court has not issued a final ruling on those competing claims.
What are dark site expenses?
Superior Star closed weak restaurants to reduce losses but remained responsible for rent on some vacant properties. It called these payments “dark site expenses.”
A closed restaurant may stop producing sales while continuing to generate rent, insurance, tax and maintenance costs. Those obligations reduced the savings Superior Star expected from shutting unprofitable locations.
Are all 59 restaurants at risk of closing?
Chapter 11 does not automatically close a business. The U.S. Courts’ Chapter 11 guidance explains that a company generally continues operating while proposing a plan to address creditors.
Superior Star could keep profitable restaurants open, renegotiate leases, restructure debts, sell locations or close additional underperforming stores. More closures are possible, but no verified 2026 closure list has been announced.
What customers and employees should know
No company-wide layoff number has been released. Employees could be affected if restaurants close or change ownership, but the bankruptcy does not automatically eliminate all 850 reported jobs.
Hardee’s has not announced a nationwide suspension of gift cards, rewards or mobile ordering. Customers should use the official restaurant locator and call their selected location because maps and delivery apps may show outdated information.
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How this differs from earlier Hardee’s closures
Superior Star’s case is separate from ARC Burger LLC, another franchisee that closed 77 Hardee’s restaurants and filed for Chapter 7 liquidation with more than $29 million in liabilities. Hardee’s later reopened some former ARC locations under corporate ownership.
The difference matters: Chapter 7 generally involves liquidation, while Superior Star is using Chapter 11 to attempt a reorganization.
Why the wider Hardee’s chain remains open
Franchisees are responsible for their own leases, employees and operating debts. One operator can fail without forcing the entire brand to close.
A Popeyes franchisee bankruptcy involving more than 130 restaurants and a separate Carl’s Jr. franchise bankruptcy affecting California locations show how individual operators can restructure or close restaurants while the national brands continue trading.
No final Superior Star restructuring plan, buyer, completion date or full 2026 closure list has been announced. For now, 59 restaurants remain in operation while the bankruptcy case proceeds.
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