By By Adam Prestridge
Despite a shaky economy nationwide, officials with the City of Atmore are finally seeing results after nearly 10 years of economic development planning.
Thursday, Paradigm Investment Group’s Chief Operating Officer Greg Hazard announced that Hardee’s would open its doors at 11 a.m. on May 18 in Rivercane, the city’s 740-acre development off Interstate 65. Earlier this month, Holiday Inn Express was the first business to open its doors to customers in development.
Atmore mayor Howard Shell said he is pleased to have another business preparing to open after so many years of planning.
Hazard mirrors Shell’s sentiments, adding that Paradigm is pleased to be the first restaurant to commit and open at Rivercane.
Hardee’s is located on the corner of Rivercane’s entrance, which Hazard believes will be key to the restaurant’s success.
“We wanted to be on the point position and we feel we’ve got the best position in the development and to get that, you’ve got to be first,” he said.
Site preparations for Hardee’s began in early February. Hazard said despite several weeks of rainy weather, construction of the facility is on its normal 80-day schedule. He added that the Hardee’s location will be state-of-the-art with contemporary d/cor, free WiFi and will feature flat-screen televisions tuned to today’s news.
Paradigm Investment Group is enjoying a great deal of success right now in spite of the downturn of the economy. Hazard said his company’s total investment once open would be right at $1.2 million. He said construction of the building was $475,000; signage, seating, equipment, franchise fees and training once complete will run about $375,000 and the land was purchased for $380,000.
The Atmore Hardee’s location will be Paradigm’s 88th restaurant to open with others stretching from Panama City, Fla. to Biloxi, Miss. and through Alabama to Fayetteville, Tenn. with the exception of Birmingham. The investment group will be opening its 87th store on May 4 in Montgomery and plans to relocate its Hardee’s locations in Huntsville and Pensacola, Fla. and rebuild its store on Atlanta Highway in Montgomery in July.
Hardee’s will employ 80 people and will open at 4 a.m. seven days a week, closing at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.