Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnKirk O’NeilSat, July 11, 2026 at 6:47 PM GMT+2 3 min readA lender dispute over millions of dollars has led a Hardee's restaurant franchisee to file for bankruptcy to invoke an automatic stay of all legal actions against the debtor.Hardee's restaurant franchisee Superior Star LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, facing an alleged seller financing dispute, according to court papers.Hardee's franchisee Superior Star LLC files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy facing a lender dispute.ShutterstockHardee's franchisee files for bankruptcyThe Phoenix-based franchisee filed its petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky on July 9, listing $10 million to $50 million in assets and liabilities, according to PacerMonitor.The debtor's largest creditors include Starcorp LLC, owed $7.04 million in a disputed seller note subject to setoff; Lionsgate Investment, owed over $184,000 in terminated leases; Kosmides Family Trust, owed over $147,000 in a settlement; FJ Enterprises LLC, owed over $144,000 in a settlement agreement; McLane Company Inc., owed over $138,000 for food products; and MB2K LLC, owed over $123,000 in rent, according to court papers.Superior Star, which purchased 93 Hardee's locations in 10 states from Starcorp in 2023, currently operates 59 locations in Midwestern states. The company closed about 12 locations in 2025, according to