MEET: CHECKERS:

Planning a Checkered future

David Meldrum brought fast-food chain Checkers to Southern Nevada and plans to expand.

Address: 825 N. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89106

Phone: 207-1009

Email: [email protected]

Website: checkers.com

Hours/days of operation: 6 a.m.–11 p.m., 24-hour drive-thru

Owned/operated by: David Meldrum

In business since: 2009

What is your favorite item on the menu?

That is a difficult question, but the item I order most is probably the Big Buford with an order of seasoned fries.

Why bring Checkers to Las Vegas?

Checkers has close to 800 restaurants across the United States. With the tremendous growth in Las Vegas in recent years, it has become a melting pot of persons from other parts of the country, many of whom have fond memories of growing up with Checkers. It seemed a natural fit to bring Checkers to Las Vegas.

Did you have a background in restaurant management?

I was fortunate to have the assistance of some experienced operators in opening my first Checkers restaurant and hiring an experienced manager. Four years of operating the first restaurant has taught me a lot about the industry, and with the assistance of current management, has prepared me for opening our second Checkers restaurant in December and in planning for expansion.

Were you worried about competition from other fast food places in town?

We recognize the competitive nature of this business but believe that the quality and diversity of our products, as well as our focus on customer service, will keep guests coming back.

What is your business philosophy?

Satisfied guests and happy employees will help make a healthy business.

What’s the most important part of your job?

It is my responsibility to provide employees with the tools to do their jobs effectively and in the best working environment possible. This assists them in providing a level of customer service that will ensure an excellent guest experience on every visit.

What is the best part about doing business in Las Vegas?

The city continues to provide the potential for growth with its unmatched entertainment venues, cost of living and low taxes.

What obstacles has your business overcome?

The difficult economy in recent years has had a dramatic impact on many of our customers, requiring even greater efforts to ensure that we address the need to provide high-quality products at a great value.

How can Nevada improve its business climate?

Continuing pro-growth policies that support the expansion of businesses will help provide the employment opportunities needed to revitalize our economy.

What have you learned from the recession?

No one is unaffected when the economy struggles. We must be prepared to do our best to address the needs of our guests in any environment.

Where do you see your business in five years?

We plan to have a sufficient number of locations to provide most of Las Vegas the opportunity to experience Checkers.

Tags: The Sunday
Business

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