By By Adam Prestridge
The Atmore Industrial Development Board announced Thursday that Hardee’s has sealed the deal for its restaurant to be located in the Rivercane development near Interstate 65.
Realty Link, LLC of Birmingham purchased a 1-acre parcel on a corner of the main thoroughfare of the 643-acre project. Realty Link is a development company specializing in restaurant projects with a track record of more than a decade of successful developments across the nation, according to John Whitson, principal of the company.
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell said he is pleased to have another commitment at Rivercane, but believes there will be more soon to come despite the decline of the economy.
According to site superintendent Charles Welch with Ganaway Contracting out of Roswell, Ga., the restaurant will be 2,789 square feet and will feature a brick and stucco exterior.
Welch also said that Viking Industries of Atmore began site preparations Thursday, but doesn’t believe much will be needed to prepare for the building’s foundation.
Welch added that work would begin in full force on Monday.
This isn’t the first time Hardee’s has opened shop in Atmore. The fast food establishment used to be located on Main Street in what now is Arby’s, but closed several years back. Whitson believes the return of Hardee’s will be beneficial to the Atmore’s growing presence at Interstate 65.
Shell believes having the new Hardee’s will be an asset to Atmore, giving its residents another choice when dining out.
Hardee’s, which will seat 66 people, expects to open at the beginning of May and will employ 60 people.