Hardee's restaurant planned for Sycamore

SYCAMORE – A new Hardee’s restaurant could be coming to Sycamore.

John Sauter, Sycamore's director of building and engineering, said a franchise group has submitted plans to the city for a Hardee's restaurant at 1645 DeKalb Ave. in a vacant lot near the site of the former Chuck's Auto Center.

Sauter said the plans still are under review, and a building permit could be issued in two to three weeks.

Sam Makim, manager of Rising Star Restaurants LLC, said the franchise group is looking to develop at least five Hardee’s restaurants in the northeast Illinois market in the next five years, with Sycamore being its first venture.

Makim said he would like to break ground for the Sycamore restaurant as soon as possible this summer and is expecting it will be open by January.

If approved, the Hardee’s would be near several other fast-food restaurants on DeKalb Avenue, including a Burger King down the street and McDonald’s, KFC, Long John Silver’s and Tom & Jerry’s across the street.

The new Hardee’s would not be the first to come to the area.

The restaurant chain used to have a location at 2500 Sycamore Road in DeKalb, but it closed in the late ’90s.

Makim said he hopes the new restaurant will “revive the brand” of Hardee’s in the area.

“We’re excited to come to the city of Sycamore and look forward to being part of the great people of Sycamore’s lives,” he said.