Hardee's planned near Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids

Hardee's is coming back to the city's west side.

Westar Foods, which owns four Hardee's restaurants in Cedar Rapids, is renovating a building at 3505 29th Ave. SW that housed a Steak ‘n Shake until September 2008.

Deanna Posey, media relations director for Overland Park, Kan.-based Westar, says the 3,825-square-foot building on the perimeter of a Walmart Supercenter near Westdale Mall will be extensively remodeled to create a “new look Hardee's.”

“We expect to open the first or second week of May, depending on how construction goes,” Posey said. “The interior has been completely gutted and we're starting our build out. You won't be able to tell that it ever was a Steak ‘n Shake when we finish our renovations.”

Posey said the restaurant, which will initially employ about 70 full- and part-time associates, will feature a brick and stone exterior with Hardees' trademark red color scheme. The dining room will accommodate between 80 and 90 customers.

“Approximately 70 percent of Hardees' business is drive-through, but we're going to have a fairly large dining room,” Posey said. “It will be very comparable in appearance to our store at Crossroads Square in Waterloo, which also was a former Steak ‘n Shake.”

Posey said Westar's district manager is interviewing applicants for all positions, including management and front-line personnel. She said some middle management positions have been filled, but Westar still needs to hire a general manager for the restaurant.

Westar Foods bought three Hardee's locations in Cedar Rapids from CKE Restaurants of Carpinteria, Calif., in 2007, but rejected a location near Edgewood Road and Johnson Avenue NW. It acquired and remodeled a fourth location at 1981 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE in January 2009.

“We plan to give all of our Cedar Rapids stores a face-lift,” Posey said. “It made sense to keep growing in Cedar Rapids. We feel this is a perfect location.”

Posey said anyone wanting to apply for work at the new Hardee's should call (563) 608-9088.