Checkers™ Signs 20-Restaurant Franchise Deal for Las Vegas

Posted on November 12, 2007 by Bill Dube

Deal fuels chain’s new market expansion plans for the West

TAMPA, FL –– Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., the nation’s largest double drive-thru restaurant chain, today announced that it has secured a deal to develop 20 new Checkers® restaurants in Las Vegas, expanding the chain’s reach in the West.  The franchise and development agreement was made with new franchisees, partners David Meldrum and Nick Nasrollahi.

This new development agreement represents the chain’s first franchise deal for the State of Nevada and is a significant step towards the Company’s strategic growth plans for the Western United States. 

Exact locations for the new Checkers restaurants in Las Vegas have yet to be determined. 

According to franchisee, Nick Nasrollahi, who previously worked with the Jack-In-The-Box® organization for 19 years, his partner and he were attracted to Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. because of its smaller real estate requirements, double drive-thru building model designed for speed and 20-year history of success.

Nasrollahi noted, “My partner, David, and I initially began looking at Checkers because we loved the amazing flavor of its food.  As we continued researching quick-service franchise opportunities, we found that Checkers offered significant business advantages over competing brands -- particularly a lower cost of entry and a smaller building footprint, which is critical with skyrocketing real estate costs.”

Meldrum added, “This brand is all about speed and that appealed to us with our society’s on-the-go lifestyle.  Checkers serves its guests fast with its double drive-thru design, and it allows new franchisees like us to be up and running faster by offering a modular building design and a franchise support team that’s always available to help you.”

“Checkers is uniquely poised for growth throughout the United States and this newest franchise and development agreement represents another significant move forward in our national expansion plans.  Our franchise partners are the key factor in our Company’s growth and we are committed to providing rewarding incentives to restaurant developers capable of opening multiple units in order to meet our objectives,” said Ron Levondosky, Executive Vice President of Franchise at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.  “We are very pleased to welcome David and Nick to our team and look forward to working with them to bring Checkers restaurants to Las Vegas, Nevada.”

About Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. (www.checkers.com) is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. The Company develops, owns, operates and franchises quick-service Checkers® and Rally’s® double drive-thru restaurants.  In recent years, Checkers/Rally’s has been awarded several of the industry’s most coveted recognitions: Best Drive-Thru in America in the QSR Drive-Thru Study for Rally’s; Nation’s Restaurant News Hot! Again Award for Checkers’ sizzling business performance; and the American Business AwardSM for the Best Executive in America.  Checkers/Rally’s is the Official Burger and Drive-Thru Restaurant of NASCAR®.