Kalamazoo Founded Fast Food Chain Only Has One Location Left In Michigan

Nothing beats a good burger.

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Some popular fast food chains serving tasty burgers include Mcdonalds, Wendy's, and Burger King.

But I don't care about any of them after finding this out.

A once-popular fast-food chain based in Michigan that had over 100 locations is now down to its last one and now I have to try it before it's too late.

History of Hot' N Now

Hot 'n Now is an American fast-food restaurant chain that was founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1984 by William Van Domelen.

Van Domelen had previously opened the first Wendy's restaurants in Michigan and was a franchisee of Burger Chef in Southwest Michigan.

The chain grew to more than 150 locations throughout the United States at its peak.

That's probably because Hot 'n Now was known for its ultra-affordable prices, with 39-cent burgers, fries, and drinks

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In 2004, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was sold to STEN Corporation, which owns the Burger Time chain.

Burger Time was sold to BTND, LLC, which owns the Hot 'n Now name.

As of September 9, 2016, only one location remains in operation, which is in Sturgis, Michigan

Hot 'n Now's Rise And Fall Is a Complicated Story

The chain's popularity declined in the 1990s, and it struggled to compete with larger fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King.

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In addition, the chain's franchisees were unhappy with the company's management and the quality of the food.

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Hot 'n Now's bankruptcy in 2004 was the result of a combination of factors, including declining sales, high debt, and legal disputes with franchisees

Despite its short-lived success, Hot 'n Now left a lasting impact on the fast-food industry. The chain's focus on affordability and speed of service helped to shape the industry's approach to fast food

Today, many fast-food chains offer value menus and emphasize the speed and convenience of their service, which were key features of Hot 'n Now's business model.

If you don't want to make the drive down to Sturgis you can check out these new restaurants in Grand Rapids that have some mouth-watering looking food.