The Hardee Boys are still in action
As some Coshocton residents may or may not know, there is a group of men, senior men, ages sixty or older, known as the Hardee Boys, or The Hardee’s Gang, that meet every morning at Hardees for coffee and to catch up. (submitted)
As some Coshocton residents may or may not know, there is a group of men, senior men, ages sixty or older, known as the Hardee Boys, or The Hardee’s Gang, that meet every morning at Hardees for coffee and to catch up. Inspiringly, this group of men have continued to find ways to meet in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic and with the dining area of Hardee’s being closed.
“I’ve been working here for 15 years, and the coffee gang has met here for as long as I can remember,” said Hardee’s Assistant Manager Peggy Shaw. As to be expected, the group has changed over the years as several members have either moved away, died, or are not able to get to the restaurant, etcetera. “You’ll be here for a while, and then you’re gone,” said coffee club member Allen McCormick.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve continued to meet. We would go through the drive thru to get our coffee, park our vehicles, roll our windows down and yell back and forth to each other,” McCormick said. Another group member, Dave Bush, added, “we brought umbrellas and hooked them to the sides of the windows while we sat in our cars on days that it rained.”
As some passersby may have noticed, there is presently a small awning tent with a picnic table set up in the corner of the Hardee’s parking lot. This is where the men meet. The first one typically arrives by 6:45 a.m. and the group stays until around 9 a.m. or even later, depending on who stops in and chats. Anyone can stop if they want to and join the group for a cup of coffee. As McCormick explained, who shows up varies each day, but the group has six to eight men who show up pretty regularly. And, while some of the conversations can get heated, especially when the topic of politics get discussed, Max Lingo shared how the group is able to come back together the next day, “we enjoy each other’s company, or we wouldn’t keep meeting.”
“Pam and Peggy take care of us,” McCormick said. McCormick brought the tent and Pam Latham, manager of Hardees, supplied the table. Shaw explained that Hardees offers free refills after the first cup of coffee, and that it’s the same for the other drinks, too. Once the men go through the drive thru and buy their first cup of coffee, a Hardees crew member brews a pot of coffee for the men and brings it out to them. When the coffee gang finishes, they bring the coffee pot up to the door and sit it there and a worker goes out and gets it and cleans it. McCormick also shared that the table and tent stay up throughout the day and night. Others can use it as long as they clean up after themselves and don’t leave a mess.
“We are really happy they’re here, they are really good guys and very good customers” Shaw said. She shared that when the dining area was open, she and other workers would ask how the men were doing and check in on them, and even though the dining area is closed, it has been an encouragement to see them. “We enjoy them still coming and supporting us” she said.
Hardees is uncertain as to when their dining area will be open to the public but are currently looking into what would need to be done for them to open as several new rules and regulations have to be implemented. No matter when they reopen the dining area, however, the Hardee Boys plan to continue to meet and drink their coffee and shoot the breeze.
Category: People & Places
