Checkers is aiming to open as many as 41 new locations in the Baltimore area during the next decade based on the strength of its existing fast-food restaurants in the region.
John Palumbo, Checkers & Rally's franchise development director, said the Baltimore area has traditionally been strong for the chain, as has the entire Mid-Atlantic region. Checkers has 800 locations nationwide, and two of its three restaurants that brought in more than $2 million during the past year were in Maryland.
Palumbo said the chain is in "growth mode" now, and Baltimore is a ripe market for new eateries. There are 14 Checkers restaurants in the area and more are on the horizon.
"When we look to grow and where we're going to expand, we're very careful where we do it," Palumbo said.
Checkers has six locations in Baltimore County, and Palumbo said he sees the potential to quadruple that. The chain is currently negotiating three new leases in Baltimore County, he said.
Franchisee Phil Dorsey, who owns 10 Checkers locations locally, saw his Waldorf location hit $2 million in sales this past year. He said it has consistently performed well during the last 20 years.
He plans to open additional restaurants in the future.
"I'm always looking to grow," he said.
Dorsey doesn't own any Checkers locations in Baltimore City, but said he sees it as a promising area where he'd like to expand.
"I'm very encouraged by what I've seen in Baltimore over the last couple of months," he said. "I think the city's sending a very strong message that it's open for business."