America’s Favorite Double Drive-Through Builds Louisiana Presence 

WINCHESTER, Ky.– Checkers and Rally’s, the iconic double drive-thru burger and fries brand known for its legendary taste, undeniable value, and game-changing innovation, has announced the reopening of a restaurant in Winchester, located at 1478 W. Lexington Ave. After more than a year of closure due to building repairs and operational transitions, Checkers & Rally’s reintroduced its restaurant to the community on June 5 and is spearheaded by experienced franchisee duo Robert Ruggieri and Monica Wang, with Synergy Restaurant Group LLC. This marks the group’s 18^th Checkers & Rally’s franchise restaurant and its 3^rd in Kentucky.

Ruggieri and Wang bring an extensive background in restaurant finance, operations, and real estate experience to Checkers & Rally’s as the group continues expanding its footprint within the quick-service industry. Led by a team with more than 30 years of experience across public accounting, restaurant financial services, and business operations, the group identified Checkers & Rally’s as a strong addition to its growing portfolio due to the brand’s efficient double drive-thru model, streamlined operations, and strong unit-level economics. Through its affiliated financial outsourcing business, the group has spent nearly two decades supporting multi-unit restaurant operators nationwide, including Checkers & Rally’s franchisees, providing firsthand insight into the brand’s long-term growth potential and operational structure.

“This opening marks an important step in bringing Checkers & Rally’s back to the Winchester community,” said Ruggieri. “We see strong potential in the area and look forward to reintroducing guests to the brand’s bold flavors, value-driven menu, and convenient drive-thru experience.”

Checkers & Rally’s designs its restaurants to meet the needs of today’s on-the-go consumer. The brand’s signature double drive-thru layout streamlines kitchen configuration, patio-focused footprint design, and efficiency and ensures a full-level experience. The company leverages technology and AI-driven tools to enhance the guest experience, optimize meal offerings, and support franchisees with a model built for operational simplicity and scalability. This approach continues to position Checkers & Rally’s as a compelling franchise opportunity with significant room for growth.

“We are proud to welcome Synergy Restaurant Group LLC to the Checkers & Rally’s system and are confident in the group’s ability to support the brand’s continued growth,” said Robert Bhagwandat, Senior Director of Franchise Development at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. “Their extensive experience supporting restaurant operators, combined with a strong understanding of unit-level performance and real estate development, makes them a strong fit for our franchise network as we continue expanding into new communities.”

About Checkers & Rally’s

Based in Tampa, Fla., Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its bold, craveable food, famous fries, exceptional value, and people-first attitude, operates and franchises both Checkers® and Rally’s® restaurants. With over 700 restaurants and room to grow, Checkers & Rally’s is a proven brand with flexible building formats that is aggressively expanding across the country. Checkers & Rally’s is dedicated to being a place where franchisees and employees who work hard can create opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. In recent years, the brand has earned several of the industry’s most prestigious awards, including Franchise Times Top 500, Entrepreneur Top 500, Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchises, Franchise Rock Star, and “Most Profitable Franchises” in 2024. The brand also earned recognition for its best-in-class training and education programs, winning four prestigious Brand Hall Group awards in 2024, and was named one of QSR’s Best Brands to Work For in 2025.

To learn more about Checkers & Rally’s franchise opportunities, visit checkersfranchising.com. For more information about Checkers & Rally’s, visit checkers.com.