Our History

Boddie-Noell’s commitment to friendly service and great-tasting food dates back to the 1960’s.

Boddie Noell Founders
founders Mayo Boddie (left) and Nick Boddie (right)

The Boddie-Noell story began in Fayetteville, N.C. in January 1962 when Carleton Noell and his two entrepreneurial nephews, the late Mayo and Nick Boddie, opened one of the first Hardee’s restaurants. Fast food was a relatively new concept back then, but BNE’s commitment to friendly service and great-tasting charbroiled burgers established it as one of the industry’s leaders.

Despite our growth and expansion over six decades throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, and Kentucky, BNE has maintained a close-knit family culture in which every individual is treated with dignity and respect.

Today, Boddie-Noell Enterprises operates some 335 Hardee’s restaurants and is the popular brand’s largest franchisee. Our business also includes BNE Land & Development, the company’s commercial land ventures and resort property development; Rose Hill, the Boddie family’s unique site for weddings and other events; Rose Hill Farm, a splendid working farm with more than 200 head of cattle, a skeet range and farming community.

Boddie-Noell Timeline: The first 60 years

1960s

1962

On January 20, Boddie-Noell opens its first Hardee’s franchise in Fayetteville, NC from 6 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. Total day’s sales: $178.42.

1967

On January 7, BNE moves out of two-room office and into new headquarters on Sunset Avenue.

1970s

1974

In July 1974, Mayo, Nick and Carleton attend the grand opening of BNE’s 100thHardee’s in Hampton, VA.

1977

BNE introduces homemade biscuits. Many BNE Hardee’s begin adding drive-thru windows.https://www.youtube.com/embed/3WV-7BvovAM

This TV commercial from the late 1970s was produced by Boddie-Noell to promote its new breakfast menu item – Made From Scratch biscuits. At the time Boddie-Noell wanted to showcase what would come to be the mainstay of our breakfast offerings. Boddie-Noell was an early pioneer in offering delicious biscuits that are made from scratch each and every morning, and they remain a favorite today for millions of our customers.

1979

Mayo Boddie purchases Rose Hill, the ancestral home in Nash County lost during the Depression.

BNE suffers the loss of Chairman and Co-founder Carleton Noell on April 23rd.

1980s

1982

BNE moves into current home office.

1983

BNE’s first annual Biscuit Bake-Off to select the company best biscuit maker.

1984

1985

BNE Land & Development established.

1989

1990s

1991

BNE introduces Fresh & Juicy Fried Chicken to the Hardee’s menu and offers 8 pcs. for $5.99.

1993

BNE Land & Development opens the Currituck Club on the Outer Banks.

1994

BNE opens its first Texas Steakhouse & Saloon in Rocky Mount.

1996

1998

1999

BNE introduces a 1950s-style dining retro experience with the Highway Diner.

2000s

2000

Mayo & Nick Boddie named NC Restaurant Association’s Restaurateurs of the Year.

2002

2004

BNE Land & Development opens Marshes Light development in Manteo on the Outer Banks.

BNE opens its first Moe’s Southwest Grill.

Rose Hill expands with addition of Nathan Hall.

2005

BNE Land & Development opens Arlington Place near Oriental and New Bern.

BNE Acquires Cafe Carolina and Bakery.

2007

BNE purchases 34 more Hardee’s in NC from Hardee’s Food Systems.

2008

BNE Land & Development launches Viniterra and the New Kent Winery in VA.

2010s

2010

Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™ tested by BNE then rolled out nationally by Hardee’s.

East Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts renames Pamlico County youth facilities as Camp Boddie.

2011

BNE suffers the loss of company co-founder Nick Boddie on December 2nd.

2012

Boddie-Noell celebrates its first 50 years.

2013

Introduce Fresh Baked Buns.

2014

The opening of a Hardee’s in Appomattox, VA will be the first of eight more new restaurant openings over the next year and a half.

2015

Our Hardee’s across Virginia raise a record $97,644 for Special Olympics Virginia to send athletes to attend the organization’s Summer Games.

2016

The growth of our Hardee’s business continues as we open six new restaurant locations throughout the year.

2017

Our growth continues. Starting this year in Oxford, NC, we open new Hardee’s locations throughout the year. It even includes a total rebuild of an existing restaurant.

2018

For the first time in the 38-year history of our partnership with Special Olympics Virginia, our Virginia Hardee’s raise more than $100,000 from customers. Proceeds pay to send athletes to the annual Summer Games. Over time, our Hardee’s have raised more than $1.8 million for these special athletes.

2019

We continue to expand and improve our Hardee’s footprint by adding new locations or rebuilding existing restaurants in Kingstree, S.C., Fredericksburg, VA., and Shallotte, N.C.

2020s

Despite a pandemic, expansion continues with more restaurant openings throughout the year. New locations open in Barnwell, SC, Cameron, NC and Prince George, VA. Remodeled reopenings occur in Portsmouth, VA. and Grandy, NC.