Franchising

Checkers & Rally's to grow California footprint by 20%

Photo: File/provided.

June 29, 2021

The parent company of Checkers and Rally's — Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc.— said it has signed a deal with franchisee, Shawn Danesh, who plans to open 15 Rally's restaurants in northern Orange County in California over the next six years, increasing the brand's California footprint by 20%, according to a news release.

"The Rally's footprint is rapidly growing in California and I'm excited to be a part of that," Danesh said in the release. "We hit the ground running and have already purchased a site in Anaheim near Disneyland, we're in the process of having plans and drawings completed for a second location in Tustin, and our third location will be in La Habra. The first location is an existing building we're converting into Rally's, and we're looking forward to bringing that to life."

Checkers & Rally's restaurants have already opened 18 new restaurants in 2021, with 40 more locations set to open before the year ends, totaling nearly 850 restaurants across 28 states.

"Southern California is a key market for any business, so having someone like Shawn who understands how to capitalize on growing this demand is critical to our success," Robert Bhagwandat, Checkers & Rally's senior director of Franchise Development, said in the release. "Shawn's locations are going to do wonders not only for the brand, but also for the local economy. We believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and we will bring jobs to these communities."

Based in Tampa, Fla., Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. currently encompasses more than 840 restaurants.