Gospel music and Thickburgers don’t go together anymore.
Earlier this week, Hardee’s restaurants in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia ended their hosting of weekly gospel music nights because officials said it was “difficult to maintain the atmosphere customers expect.”
“We have hosted gospel music well over 10 years in some of (the restaurants),” said Brenda Eckard, vice president of marketing for J&S Restaurants, the area Hardee’s franchisee. “It worked well for us and worked well for them. As gospel music grew and our business grew, it became more and more difficult to accommodate them.”
A letter to area restaurant managers said J&S officials didn’t want to imply anyone acted inappropriately but that space, seating and the ability to hear over the music dictated the move.
“We are constantly hearing from our patrons that it is difficult to place orders at the drive-through and almost impossible to come inside to order and eat in our dining rooms while groups are performing,” the letter said.