---
title: "The Business Journal: Checkers & Rally's Eyes Mahoning Valley for Growth"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/ae9f30ff-9238-4ae3-a6b0-6795709143af
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/the-business-journal-checkers-rallys-eyes-mahoning-valley-for-growth-8989
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
published: 2017-01-03T22:17:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:13:58.203Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/fcf3d94332e173ccad5c8cf8e44d794a8770.jpg
---

# The Business Journal: Checkers & Rally's Eyes Mahoning Valley for Growth

**TL;DR:** Checkers & Rally's aims to open eight new stores in Mahoning Valley over the next four years. The brand is utilizing their new 4.0 Model to expand within Akron, Canton and Youngstown.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-01-03. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/the-business-journal-checkers-rallys-eyes-mahoning-valley-for-growth-8989).*

## Story

Rally's is targeting Mahoning Valley for development in 2017. The brand previously had a presence in the market, and based on their recent success, aims to open as many as eight stores within the next four years.

"There were some closures in the past," Bruce Kim, Director of Franchise Development, told The Business Journal reporter. "Right now we're on the upswing."

Rally's is currently working with local business owners in the market to expand within Akron, Canton and Youngstown, utilizing Checkers & Rally's new 4.0 Model. The new program helps streamline development while improving cost-effectiveness and offers three prototypes, including a model that uses recycled shipping containers.

"Not every community will allow a modular building or a repurposed shipping container," Kim told the reporter. "Sometimes the franchisee may not want that."

These new units can cost as little as $100,000, promoting rapid expansion for Checkers & Rally's current 838 nationwide locations.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise development (topic)
- market growth (topic)
- Checkers (company)
- Rally's (company)
- akron (location)
- Mahoning Valley (location)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/the-business-journal-checkers-rallys-eyes-mahoning-valley-for-growth-8989). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/ae9f30ff-9238-4ae3-a6b0-6795709143af).