America’s Favorite Double Drive-Through Builds Mid-Atlantic Presence

LOUISA, Va. – Checkers & 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 opening of a restaurant in Louisa, located at 507 E Main Street.

The new location will be operated by Anis Akram, a seasoned restaurant operator with more than two decades of industry experience. Akram began his career as a district manager overseeing nine Burger King restaurants in New York, where he built a strong foundation in multi-unit operations and leadership. He later transitioned into franchise ownership as an operating partner of three Popeyes restaurants before joining Checkers & Rally’s and opening his first location in Virginia. The Louisa restaurant marks his second location with the brand and continues his growth as a multi-unit franchisee.

“I’m thrilled to open my second Checkers & Rally’s location and bring the brand to Louisa for the first time,” said Akram. “I look forward to the restaurant being part of the community by working with local schools and athletics teams. We’ll ensure we provide bold flavors to guests and are confident the restaurant will resonate with the community.”

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 streamlined kitchen configuration, and patio-focused footprint drive speed, efficiency, and strong unit-level performance. The company leverages technology to enhance the guest experience, optimize menu 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.

“Anis’ operational experience, leadership, and dedication to guest service make him a strong operator to continue the brand’s development in Louisa,” said Peter Busse, Chief Development Officer at Checkers & Rally’s. “We’re honored to work with entrepreneurs who share the brand’s passion for delivering bold flavor and exceptional value.”

Merged in 1999 to form one concept, Checkers & Rally’s primarily operates through a proven 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. Checkers & Rally’s current strategy is targeting select markets throughout the United States, particularly in South and Central Wisconsin, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Southern California, Las Vegas, Florida, and South Carolina.

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.