Jul. 27—LAVALE — A new fast food restaurant has set the date for its opening in LaVale.
Lizzi Stendler, public relations officer for Checkers and Rally’s, said the new restaurant, located at 1055 National Highway, is expected to open Aug. 13.
The Checkers and Rally’s fast food restaurant chain has over 800 locations in the United States, including 34 in Maryland. The menu includes burgers, classic wings, chicken strips, fish sandwiches, hot dogs and french fries as well as soft drinks, creamy slushies, ice cream and milkshakes.
According to Stendler, Dharmesh “Danny” Kotak will own and operate the new restaurant. Additional owners include Amit Shah, Khush Kotak, Yogesh Patel and Kirit Parmar. The group brings over a decade of experience in the Maryland fast-casual sector, currently owning and operating over 10 locations of iconic brands such as Dunkin’, Sonic Drive-In and Baskin Robins, according to a press release.
“I am thrilled that we are bringing the latest Checkers and Rally’s location to LaVale and expanding our restaurant portfolio with such an iconic brand,” Kotak said in the release.
“The combination of the classic menu, effective store design and streamlined operations makes Checkers and Rally’s stand out in the space. Having operated several fast-casual franchises across Maryland, I am excited for our latest franchise venture and seeing the positive impact Checkers and Rally’s will have on the local community of LaVale.”
Merged in 1999 to form one concept, Checkers and Rally’s primarily operates through a franchise model, in which owners benefit from brand recognition, operational support and marketing resources. Potential franchise prospects can develop on less than half of an acre, which is half the size of competing drive-thru concepts.
“The LaVale franchisees are ideal partners we look for, and with their enthusiasm for the brand and exceptional experience, we know they will thrive in LaVale and beyond,” said Kris McDonald, vice president of development at Checkers & Rally’s. “As Checkers and Rally’s grows throughout the U.S., we are eager to break into new markets and work alongside entrepreneurs and local communities.”
The location at 1055 National Highway was formerly occupied by Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard.
In addition to Checkers, Kotak said in October he hopes to bring a Sonic to Vocke Road near its intersection with Winchester Road.
Kotak has been investing in multiple business opportunities in Allegany County beginning four years ago. One of the first was securing the rights to bring the national coffee and doughnut chain Dunkin’ to the area. That store opened in the LaVale Plaza in the autumn of 2021.
Kotak’s enterprise also opened Mountain City Liquors and Dunkin’ in the Frostburg Plaza.
In addition to his Frostburg investments, in Cumberland, Kotak’s company purchased the former Excello Liquors site at 814 N. Mechanic St. and reopened the location as Queen City Liquors.
Kotak also owns Hershey’s Ice Cream, 735 N. Centre St., Cumberland.
Greg Larry is a reporter at the Cumberland Times-News. To reach him, call 304-639-4951, email glarry@times-news.com and follow him on Twitter @GregLarryCTN.
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