Checkers, the drive-in chain founded in Mobile, Alabama, in the ’80s, closed its location at 77 Chambers last month — and the lease has already been scooped up by Sarku Japan, another ’80s “quick serve” chain, though this one is out of Canada via Boston. (Thanks to A. for the heads up on Checkers.)

Sarku Japan is huge: the company has more than 180 restaurants in the US, largely in shopping mall food courts but also with some street locations; there are four in Queens. Founded in 1987 by James Chim in Boston, the menu is mostly teriyaki dishes along with bento boxes, dumplings, tempura and a variety of sushi rolls.

Chim had previously worked as an executive at the Canadian quick-serve restaurant chain Manchu Wok; with in five years he had 50 locations of Sarku Japan.