Hot n’ Now: America’s Lost Relic Is Still In Business Here In Michigan

My grandparents have lived in Holland most of my life so I frequently visited Holland State Park growing up. My favorite building to drive past was always this closed Hot n' Now shop where my dad said he would buy a bunch of super cheap hamburgers that "got me through school".

So I always enjoyed watching this old building slowly get overtaken by nature until it was eventually torn down around 2010ish. I had always assumed this relic was the last of its kind. That is until very recently when I learned there is one, single Hot n' Now still in operation, and it is here in Michigan.

Rise and Fall of Hot n' Now

Hot n' Now was known for its 39-cent burgers, fries, drinks, and unique drive-thru design. The cheap food was a big hit when the franchise started in the 1980s, however as time went on, the company struggled to turn a profit and filed for bankruptcy in 2004.

Hot n' NOW

There is now one single location still in business located in Sturgis just a few miles from the Indiana border. The final Hot n' Now operates independently, though the Lansing State Journal reports that the trademark is technically owned by BTND LLC of West Fargo N.D. Kees Van Zelst, the current owner of the Hot n' Now in Sturgis, said that

I don't know who that is and I will not bring that up...they don't bother me and I don't bother them. It's a two way street.

 

It has around 25 employees and sells Hot n' Now merchandise. If you want to get a bite of these legendary burgers, head to 609 S Centerville Rd, Sturgis, MI 49091. Open 7 days a week, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.