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