The Checkers and Rally’s franchise has been in the restaurant business since 1986. The first Checkers opened 1986 in Mobile, Ala., and Rally’s opened in 1985 in Louisville, Ky. The two restaurants merged in 1999 after maintaining more than 200 locations across the Southeastern and Midwestern states.
The merger made Checkers and Rally’s the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the country. The franchise now has an established network of more than 800 restaurants across the United States.
“I’ve never been there or eaten their food before. I know they serve burgers and things like that. I know I am never going to go there unless I’m dying. I mean you can’t go inside (the restaurant). What are they hiding in there? Also I don’t really eat fast food,” Glenn said. She also added, “I think it’s a bad location because if it is crowded the cars will be out on the street.”
Jordan Johnson, of 3699 Park Ave. and senior at the University of Memphis, also was not thrilled about the construction of the new fast food restaurant.
“It is easily the worst food for you. No nutritional health what-so-ever. I’ve been there one time, and it was one time too many. People love eating unhealthy food, so why not put something unhealthy there?” Johnson said. “I felt like I was eating a heart attack. I’ve eaten Mcdonald’s a billion times before and never felt like I was eating a heart attack. The taste of the food wasn’t even that great.”
No one at the new restaurant was available to comment on the health issues or traffic issues posed by its location.
A statement from Checkers says in order for people to start a franchise and build their own Checkers they have to meet the franchise requirements. The qualifications are $750,000 net worth with $250,000 minimum liquid assets. The franchise fee is $30,000 per restaurant and the total estimated initial investment is between $611,000 and $682,000. Applications are made online.