Hardee died Friday, at the age of 89, in Greenville, N.C., the same town where he opened his first Hardee's location, giving birth to a hamburger franchise that is now a division of St. Louis-based CKE Restaurants Inc. Hardee's has grown to include 1,900 locations across the Midwest and Southeast and 200 international locations. More →

This image documents the very first Hardee's restaurant founded by Wilber Hardee. This photograph was taken in September 1960 for use in a Daily Reflector print advertisement to promote the grand opening of the restaurant. Contrary to popular belief, the first Hardee's was not in Rocky Mount, but right down the road at 14th and Charles Street (Greenville, NC)