Hale and Hardee

Wilber Hardee, a far better grill cook than a businessman, has died of a heart attack at age 89, as Mark’s Eat, Drink and Be Buried once again proves to be better in concept than execution. Hardee opened his first hamburger stand near the campus of East Carolina College in 1960, selling burgers for 15 cents a piece. He sold his 5 franchises in 1963 for $37,000. Last year, Hardee’s had revenues of $1.8 billion.