Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, the largest double drive-thru chain in the United States, is expanding its presence across the nation through a new signing with Twin Towers Trading Site Management (TTTSM). The burger chain, which traditionally focused on drive-thru, will open non-drive-thru restaurants in three additional Walmart locations. The Site Management Group, which has brought food services to more than 1,800 Walmart stores, will open and manage three Checkers restaurants across North Carolina and Mississippi.
TTTSM will open the doors to its first North Carolina Checkers location in Walmart in mid-November and anticipates that its two Mississippi restaurants will start serving customers in February 2014. Currently, Checkers operates 2 restaurants in Super Walmarts in Haymarket, Virginia, and Oldsmar, Florida.
“This signing reflects that the Checkers brand is attracting entrepreneurs who see the potential for the brand to grow in unconventional venues,” Jennifer Durham, Vice President of Franchise Development of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., said. “The experience the TTTSM team brings will catapult Checkers and Rally’s to value-conscious and hungry Walmart customers.”
Since 2005, TTTSM has been connecting food franchises with major retail stores, such as Walmart, by managing the prime real estate space available within their locations. The company has extensive experience in creating opportunities for existing food service operators, having successfully placed national restaurant chains such as Subway, Papa John’s, Sonic and Auntie Annie’s in 1,851 Walmart stores nationwide. “The wonderful thing about partnering with Walmart is that you’re guaranteed pedestrian traffic of 65,000 and above,” George Leviton, Vice President of TTTSM, said.
While TTTSM typically leases out spaces to franchisees, the company is confident that Checkers will garner extreme success, and has chosen to retain the rights to the three Walmart locations. “Our company will own and operate these particular stores because we are proud to be part of the Checkers family and we want to demonstrate to future franchisees around the country that opening Checkers inside Walmart is a profitable and exciting opportunity,” Leviton said.
Leviton and his team are looking forward to taking Checkers, well-known for its drive-thru operations, into a new restaurant format by developing the three Walmart locations.
“We’ve been working with Walmart for years and we wanted to find a burger chain with a fantastic product that will resonate – Checkers was the perfect fit,” he said. “We looked at brands from one end of the country to another and we felt that Checkers, from the standpoint of product quality, reputation, service and support of management, was far superior to anything we had seen. We have such strong confidence in the brand that we wanted to expand them in the Walmart system ourselves.”
In addition to their classic favorites, Checkers continues to add craveable menu selections and introduce daring flavors to its fans. Options such as Loaded Potato Skins, Cold Creations and the original Big Buford aim to bring the freshest ingredients and boldest flavors to hungry guests. As the company continues to innovate, it also remains true to its commitment to provide crazy good food at an exceptional value.
“The Checkers franchise opportunity continues to draw interest from seasoned restaurant operators who see the constant menu innovation and growth opportunities in new markets as being a recipe for success,” Durham said. “As this new development presents a unique opportunity for Checkers to build restaurants in an untapped market, the brand expects more restaurateurs to rise up and join its franchisee ranks.”
Checkers continues to grow nationally with opportunities for ownership available in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, New York and Washington D.C, among other cities.
For Checkers and Rally’s franchise information, please visit http://www.checkersfranchising.com.
Checkers/Rally’s Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. The company develops, owns, operates and franchises both Checkers and Rally’s restaurants. Based in Tampa, Fla., it has almost 800 restaurants open across the U.S. In recent years, the brand has been awarded several of the industry’s most prestigious awards including: “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine and the “Hot! Again Award” from Nation’s Restaurant News. For more information about Checkers, please visit http://www.checkers.com.
