It’s a slow Thursday evening at the Hardees on Highway 153. The dinner rush has not yet started, but the dining room is teeming with activity as a local gospel trio, “Hope For Tomorrow,” sets up for their weekly concert in the restaurant.
Linda Spangler sings soprano for the group and says they came together almost by accident. “We just started singing together in the kitchen for fun,” she says. They were invited to sing in church, and now they perform for community benefits, nursing homes and ladies’ ministries, along with their weekly Hardees gig.
Before picking up their microphones, Linda, Suzy Scealf and Nellie Thompson join hands for a quick word of prayer. There are few patrons present as the easy listening music usually played in the restaurant is replaced with the upbeat strains of Southern gospel. Linda says their music style was not a difficult choice.
“This is the music we all grew up with,” she says.
Their voices harmonize beautifully, filling the room with music that would be more at home at a revival meeting than a fast food joint. Songs like “Praise His Name” and “Somebody Say Amen” set many toes to tapping in the Hardees dining room.
As their performance continues, the restaurant gets busier. Patrons entering the building look on curiously at first, then smile as they make their way through the line. Linda says they have only had one negative response to their mini-concerts - a would-be customer left after hearing the gospel music - but a vast majority of the patrons seem to enjoy the entertainment, often joining in on familiar songs.
The people waiting in the drive-through creep slowly past the dining room windows, peering at the singers. As the dinner hour approaches, the restaurant begins to fill. The trio waves greetings to familiar faces. One customer starts dancing to the music, bringing smiles to the faces of onlookers.
Linda says the group considers their time in Hardees each week as a community outreach. “We know people that would not come to church will come in to Hardees and listen to us sing. They often tell us they are blessed by it.”
“Hope For Tomorrow” isn’t the only group to perform on Thursdays. Linda says other musicians are welcome to share the stage with them. “We usually sing for an hour and then if somebody wanders in with an instrument, they take over and give us a break. Otherwise, we sing for the whole two hours.”
Tonight an elderly gentleman named Mr. Hatfield wanders in with his guitar and starts strumming “Amazing Grace,” while Nellie pulls out her flute and joins in. Linda and Suzy take a break with drinks and wait for their next set. They take time to fellowship with their fans and enjoy Mr. Hatfield’s playing. After a few songs, they again take to the front for more Southern gospel tunes, loyal Hardees patrons munching their burgers and fries in time with the music.
They come from different churches with different backgrounds, but one thing is unanimous among Hardees customers tonight - the people in the drive-through don’t know what they’re missing.
Mr. Hatfield plays "Amazing Grace" for Hardees patrons. Click to enlarge all our photos.
- Photo2 by Christina Siebold