The First Is No More.

The local Hardee's Hamburger store has closed in De Funiak Springs this week. This was the very first "Fast Food" place to come to town and was located off the I-10 exit. In its hay day the Hardee's brand pioneered breakfast with a menu of various homemade biscuits. With the buyout by CKE Inc. the food in my opinion took a nose dive. (CKE also owns the west coast burger giant Carl's Jr. and immediately plastered that yellow star all over the Hardee's.) The problem must have been local because, CKE website touts the success of their brands.

The Hardee Husky I ate in my youth sitting outside beneath those unique early stores with their circular space ship looking design are long gone. (I CAN'T EVEN FIND PICTURE ONLINE) My family had the habit which meant a trip to Ft. Walton Beach to enjoy my father favorite. He was definanately NOT a McDonald's man. The De Funiak Store was built in the expansion style of the 70s with mansard roof and wooden siding.The wisecracking Nascar drivers that huskered the Hardee's name disappeared from the television. At on time this Hardee's was the "meeting place" for so many locals that it could be said that it had replaced downtown. Today it stands empty. The placards removed from the window. Rumor has it that Whataburger will purchase the building and open their own. I will miss my steak biscuits, though I never realized that they toted an 800 calorie punch.