Hot 'n Now

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Hot 'n Now

Type	private
Founded	1984
Headquarters	Holt, Michigan, USA
No. of locations	8
Area served	Michigan, Wisconsin
Industry	Fast food
Products	Hamburgers French fries Soft drinks Milkshakes Fried chicken

Hot 'n Now is an American fast-food restaurant chain based in Holt, Michigan. Founded in 1984, the chain grew to more than 150 locations throughout the United States at its peak. Once under the ownership of PepsiCo, the chain filed for bankruptcy in the 2004, and was then sold to STEN Corporation. As of 2008, Hot 'n Now operates seven locations in Michigan, plus one in Wisconsin.

[edit] History

Hot 'n Now was founded in Michigan in 1984, and began franchising activities in 1987. In 1990, the chain was acquired by PepsiCo, which placed operations under its Taco Bell branch^[1]. The chain's main advertising campaign in the mid-1990s was based around its low prices, including hamburgers, french fries, and soft drinks for only 39 cents each.

Typical Hot 'n Now Menu

At its peak, the chain had over 150 locations nationwide, reaching as far as Oregon and Florida. However, as the chain grew quickly, the quality of the product began to decline. Low-quality food products and competition from McDonald's and Burger King have been cited as reasons for Hot 'n Now's downfall. In 2004 the company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy^[1]; a year later, it was sold to STEN Corporation, which also owns the Burger Time chain.

In 2001, 67 locations were still open,^[2] but by 2005, only 14 remained.

The majority of the chain's locations focused entirely on drive-thru service, featuring a small footprint building with a tall, slanted roof style. However, some locations were more traditional fast-food locations, complete with seating; some were also combined with gas stations.^[3]

The chain is still operating in Michigan, with locations in Bay City, Chesterfield, Lapeer, Mount Pleasant, Roseville, Saginaw, Monroe, and Sturgis; there is also one location in Marshfield, Wisconsin.^{[citation needed]}