Hardee's To Try New Look

Hardee's Restaurants is test marketing a new look and new food this week in Nash County, before branching out to other towns.

The chain hopes the changes will bring more money and customers to the table.

The Hardee's in Nash County is is the only restaurant in America test marketing the chain's new menu.

"We mean business with Hardee's, and we're here to stay," said Thomas G. Lewison, the senior vice-president of operations. "We have a lot of different elements that we're working on. One of those just happens to be this test, and we'd like to bring some pride back to the brand, and we're doing that in many ways. This just happens to be one of them."

The changes come after layoffs last summer in Rocky Mount that made some people think that Hardee's would close down.

Instead, the company said that the new restaurant combines old favorites with new ones from CKE, the company that bought the chain.

Its fried chicken and breakfast menu for instance, are offered alongside some west coast staples.

Customer Sherri Weeks said, "The food is better. We got burgers, and they're better than the regular Hardee's burgers."

"I saw that they were changing this over and I really wanted to try it out, and it looked really good," said Lyn Millward, another customer. "One of the things I like is that they have added to the chicken menu."

Company leaders believe that the new food is what America wants. Now, they're counting on a new look and a new attitude to bring in new customers.

Hardee's plans to re-open five more restaurants with the new menu by the end of May.