Walk-On's founder set to bring his Smalls Sliders concept to Pensacola next year

If you see four orange shipping containers getting lowered down from the sky into Pensacola next year, you may end up believing they came from Heaven itself since they will come bearing buttery cheeseburger sliders, waffle fries and decadent cookies and cream milkshakes.

Louisiana-founded franchise Smalls Sliders, which builds its restaurants using converted shipping containers, is coming to Pensacola next year.

Here’s what we know about the new restaurant.

Drew Brees is an investor

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux Owner Brandon Landry founded the restaurant along with former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees as an initial investor. Brees is also soon to be a franchisee with the business, per the Smalls Sliders website. The Landry and Brees duo may sound familiar, as they are both tied to Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, which opened its first Pensacola location at 1240 Airport Blvd. last August. Also a Louisiana-based company, Walk-On’s fuses a friendly sports bar atmosphere with top-of-the-line Cajun cooking.

The Smalls Sliders menu is short-and-sweet

If you’re suddenly struck by decision paralysis in the fast-food drive-thru menu, the Smalls Sliders menu makes it easy on you with a baseline of sliders, shakes, fries and “biggie smalls,” which are pretty much double cheeseburger sliders. Naturally, there are customizations you can make, such as adding a side of queso to your fries, or a colossal stack of bacon, which is referred to as “Drew style.” The combos are based around the number of sliders you order, ranging from the number one, including one slider, fries and a 20-ounce drink, to the number four with four sliders, fries and a 20-ounce drink.

What comes on a Smalls Slider?

Although there is not much on the menu, what is there promises to be quality. It starts with a fresh, never frozen patty, and builds with cheese, pickle, “smauce” sauce and a toasted, buttered bun. All patties are formed in house and are cooked to order.

Is Smalls Sliders drive-thru only?

Smalls Sliders offers both drive-thru and walk-up options with limited outdoor seating.

Pensacola’s locations will be among the state’s first

Smalls Sliders franchisee Matt Gallagher is developing the brand’s first four locations in Mississippi, then will be bringing an addition four “cans,” or locations, in Pensacola. This is anticipated to be completed in 2024, though the exact locations have yet to be determined. Gallagher has spent the past 40 years in the restaurant industry as a franchisee with both Walk-On’s and Outback Steakhouse. Gallagher was attracted to the simplicity of the Smalls Sliders model, according to a press release by Smalls Sliders.

Gallagher will be partnering with his two sons to lead daily operations across Mississippi and Florida.

“Working with restaurant industry veterans like Matt is always a pleasure, as they share our team’s passion for building industry-disrupting concepts,” Maria Rivera, CEO of Smalls Sliders, said in a statement. “Matt’s experience in restaurant ownership and operations makes him an asset as we establish a presence in the Florida market, and his involvement will continue to strengthen the Smalls Sliders brand moving forward.”

The franchise is growing quickly

Smalls Sliders is fairly new to the franchise world and opened its very first restaurant in 2019. Since then, it has grown to open nine "cans" throughout Louisiana, with over 100 locations in the development pipeline, according to a statement by the company. The franchise landed a spot on the "QSR Magazine" 40/40 List for 2022: America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals and the 2023 GSR 50 Contenders list. It also made Nation’s Restaurant News naming the brand as one of the publication’s “Breakout Brands of 2023,” in addition to ranking on this year’s "Entrepreneur" magazine “Top New & Emerging Franchises” list.

Due to the brand’s unique design of converting shipping containers into restaurants, it allows for real estate flexibility and rapid construction, per the restaurant’s website.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Smalls Sliders plans to bring four locations to Pensacola next year