July 27 – LAVALE – A new fast food restaurant has set an opening date 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.
Fast food restaurant chain The Checkers and Rally has more than 800 locations across the United States, including 34 in Maryland. The menu includes burgers, classic wings, chicken strips, fish sandwiches, hot dogs and 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 more than a decade of experience in Maryland’s fast-casual sector, currently owning and operating more than 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 Checkers and Rally’s newest 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 make Checkers and Rally’s stand out in the space. Having operated several fast-casual franchises in Maryland, I am excited about our latest franchise venture and seeing the positive impact of Checkers and Rally’s will have in the local LaVale community.”
Merged in 1999 to form a single concept, Checkers and Rally’s operates primarily 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 an acre, which is half the size of competing drive-thru concepts.
“LaVale franchisees are ideal partners we are looking 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 for Checkers & Rally’s. “As Checkers and Rally’s grows across the U.S., we look forward to entering new markets and working alongside local entrepreneurs and communities.”
The location at 1055 National Highway was previously occupied by Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard.
In addition to Checkers, Kotak said in October that it hopes to bring a Sonic to Vocke Road, near its intersection with Winchester Road.
Kotak has been investing in various business opportunities in Allegany County for four years. One of the first was securing the rights to bring national coffee and donut chain Dunkin’ to the region. This store opened in LaVale Plaza in fall 2021.
Kotak’s company also opened Mountain City Liquors and Dunkin’ in Frostburg Plaza.
In addition to its investments in Frostburg in Cumberland, Kotak’s company purchased the former Excello Liquors location at 814 N. Mechanic St. and reopened the location as Queen City Liquors.
Kotak also owns Hershey’s Ice Cream, 735 N. Center St., Cumberland.
Greg Larry is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. To contact him, call 304-639-4951, email glarry@times-news.com and follow him on Twitter @GregLarryCTN.
