METAIRIE, La. – Smalls Sliders, a QSR restaurant concept that focuses on cheeseburger sliders, has announced plans for a location at Clearview City Center.
The deal is part of a four-unit agreement with Saints great Drew Brees, who is an investor in the company as well as a franchisee. Jason Loerzel and Ben Smith, Brees’ franchise partners and former college football teammates, will join him as co-owners. The restaurant will open in the fourth quarter of 2023 at the Metairie mixed-use complex, which is undergoing a multimillion transformation.
Smalls Sliders also has new locations coming to Lafayette, West Monroe, Gonzales and Baton Rouge, as well as Flowood, Miss.
“I invested in Smalls Sliders because I love not only the food, but the overall experience the brand brings to its guests,” said Brees in a press release. “Smalls Sliders’ contagious, community-driven culture drives its strong unit economics, and my partners and I are thrilled to take part in that at the franchisee level, too.”
Melissa Kernaghan will oversee the Metairie location’s employees and manage the day-to-day activities as operations director.
“Clearview City Center has undergone a significant transformation over the past several years, with our vision for a premier mixed-use destination in Metairie quickly becoming a reality,” said Thomas Richards, Clearview City Center managing partner. “Our focus for this development has been to bring in unique, hot concepts with national appeal like Smalls Sliders, and we’re ecstatic to have our very own Can for our visitors, tenants and residents to enjoy.”
The transaction was brokered by Charlie Colvin of Momentum Commercial Real Estate representing Smalls Sliders. Kirsten Early and Stephanie Hilferty with SRSA Commercial Real Estate worked on behalf of Clearview City Center.
Smalls Sliders currently has locations in Baton Rouge (Bluebonnet and Nicholson), Prairieville, Thibodaux, Shreveport, Slidell, Denham Springs and Marrero.
QSR magazine featured the brand in its list of “40/40 List for 2022: America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals,” and Nation’s Restaurant News named it one of the “Breakout Brands of 2023.” Entrepreneur magazine included Smalls on its “Top New & Emerging Franchises” list.
