ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (Dec. 7, 2021) – Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc., owner of the Highway Diner which is located on 910 North Winstead Ave., announced today that the restaurant will be closing permanently on Dec. 23. The restaurant normally closes Dec.23 for Christmas to give employees time off with their families.
“This was a very difficult business decision to close the Highway Diner after 22 years of serving our community,” Boddie-Noell President Mike Boddie said. “We are indebted to the loyalty of our employees and our customers over the years. Our top priority now is to take care of these employees and we will provide support to help each individual find other jobs.”
The Highway Diner’s 30 employees will be provided a retention bonus and will be matched with available openings within the company’s eight area Hardee’s restaurants. If a position isn’t available for Highway Diner employees within the company, Boddie-Noell said it will take extra steps to assist an employee with a transition that includes contacting other employers in the community who may be able to help them find a job.
“We are committed to our people and we will do everything we can to help them,” Boddie said.
The restaurant opened in 1999 and for many years enjoyed loyal and stable local customer support as well as with travelers along nearby U.S. 64 and Interstate 95.
Boddie-Noell has not made a decision as to what to do with the building and the property. The company will be evaluating options in the coming months, the company said.
Boddie-Noell owns and operates 342 Hardee’s locations across four states as well as its nearby Rose Hill Farm and special events venue and its BNE Land & Development real estate development company. It is the largest Hardee’s franchise operator in the U.S. The company is family owned and based in Rocky Mount.
