Natalie Morris| Special to the State Journal-Register
There’s a new star shining over the Springfield Hardee’s chain.
The Phoenix-based Superior Star LLC has acquired 93 Hardee’s sites throughout the Midwest, including the four operating here in the Capital City.
The franchise was formed in December, right around the time Superior Star LLC purchased the holdings of fellow Phoenix-based Hardee’s franchise, StarCorp, LLC.
“We look forward to refreshing/remodeling some of the stores in our portfolio over the next year,” Brian Bonfiglio, one of the owners of Superior Star LLC wrote in an email, “and bringing more exciting new products and special value offerings to our customers.”
Superior Star’s footprint covers Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio and Tennessee.
Hardee’s signature made-from-scratch biscuits, hand-breaded chicken tenders and Black Angus Thickburgers can be found in Springfield at 600 W. Jefferson St., 1835 E. Sangamon Ave., 3217 Clear Lake Ave. and 2501 Adlai Stevenson Drive.
A fifth location at 1700 Wabash Ave. closed earlier this year.
Hardee’s has been a part of the local dining scene since 1973 when the California-based fast food brand bought out the former Kewanee, Ill.-based Sandy’s burger chain, which included two spots in Springfield.
Hardee’s signature blue-and-orange signs and blocky font were retired in 1997 when the California-based Carl’s Jr. chain purchased the burger brand. Parent company CKE Restaurant Holdings LLC. kept the Hardee’s name but had the chain’s logo mimic that of Carl’s Jr. with its smiling star, cursive lettering and red-and-white color scheme.
Fairground Cafe
The menu for the Fairground Cafe – which opened Wednesday a few blocks from the Illinois State Fairgrounds – gives frequent nods to its namesake.
There’s the Fairgrounds horseshoes – versions for both the breakfast and lunch crowd.
Pork in all its glorious forms (ham, bacon and sausage) are featured in both the eponymous omelet and skillet. Then there is the self-named Fairgrounds Favorite Crepes filled with berries and drizzled with icing and the Fairgrounds Burger topped with bacon, grilled onions and Swiss cheese.
Husband-wife owner/operators Jack Ahmedi and Buka Nuhiji even give homage to their renowned neighbor in the cafe’s logo – a huge Ferris wheel with coffee cups in lieu of the gondola seating.
To date, though, the cafe has foregone fairgoers’ penchant for all things deep-fried on a stick.
The new American, family-style cafe is at 1923 N. Peoria Road in the former Jungle Jim’s Cafe address.
Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily with an expansive breakfast and lunch menu. Dine in and take out available. Phone: 217-572-1418. The renovated building is wheelchair accessible.
The menu offers an extensive selection of breakfast platters, skillets and omelets, as well as a variety of pancakes, French toast and waffles. Lunch selections include burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, salads and appetizers.
A daily special, as well as a daily soup selection and chili will be added in June.
This is the couple’s first establishment, but they are familiar faces to regulars at The Chatham Cafe in Chatham, as former staff members. The two had left Illinois to pursue new careers in Florida, but returned when they heard the spot was available.
The building had been shuttered since January 2023 when Jungle Jim’s Cafe closed.
KFC staying in Springfield
Franchise operators for Springfield’s only remaining Kentucky Fried Chicken destination says there are no plans to exit the market, despite two sister sites recently being designated as “temporarily closed.”
“Traffic is good,” KFC district manager Jamie Gomez said of the chain’s remaining business at 3150 S. Sixth St. “The plan is to keep it going.”
The brand’s corporate office said sites at 1111 N. Ninth St. and 1850 W. Jefferson St. are both listed as temporarily closed.
All three sites are owned by the Irving, Texas-based EYM Group. In addition to Kentucky Fried Chicken, the multi-brand franchise company operates in seven states under the brands Denny’s, Panera Bread and Pizza Hut.
Gomez said EYM Group closed the two sites due to poor sales volume. He said while the franchise still owns the two shuttered buildings there is no timeline on when they might reopen or even if they will return under the KFC shingle.
The A La Carte column highlights restaurant openings, closings, renovations and relocations, as well as personnel changes and business news. Natalie Morris can be reached at 217-737-7254 or by email at natalie.sjr@gmail.com.
