METAIRIE, La. — On Feb. 1, Smalls Sliders will celebrate the grand opening of a new location at 4580 Veterans Memorial Boulevard. The quick-service cheeseburger restaurant is owned by Drew Brees, Jason Loezel and Ben Smith.
Founded by Brandon Landry, Smalls Sliders opened its first location in 2019. Now it has 160 restaurants open or under development. Nation’s Restaurant News included Smalls Sliders in its “Breakout Brands of 2023”and QSR Magazine mentioned it in its annual QSR 50 Contenders list. Brees was an early investor in the business.
“We’ve seen the excitement surrounding the Smalls brand, and it has only heightened around our grand opening,” said Melissa Kernaghan, director of operations at Boilermaker Ventures and local operator of the Smalls Sliders in Metairie. “Smalls has become a staple within Louisiana communities, and people truly feel connected to the brand.”
A spokesperson said this is the first of 40 Smalls Sliders openings slated for 2024 across the Southeast. It’s the first to be co-owned by Brees. The brand calls its locations “cans” since they are constructed using metal shipping containers.
“Drew has been an integral part of Smalls Sliders since its inception, and we are thrilled to celebrate his first can opening,” said Maria Rivera, CEO of Smalls Sliders. “His passion and commitment to our vision and values have been a driving force of our growth and brand culture, and we are proud to partner with him in Metairie and beyond.”
There will be an official ribbon cutting hosted by the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m on Feb. 1 at the restaurant.
