METAIRIE, La. – Smalls Sliders, the QSR restaurant concept that focuses exclusively on grillin’ up slammin’ cheeseburger sliders, announced today the signed lease of its newest location at Clearview City Center in Metairie, Louisiana.
The next Can is part of a four-unit agreement with former pro football NFL quarterback Drew Brees, who is an investor in Smalls Sliders as well as a franchisee. Jason Loerzel and Ben Smith, Brees’ franchise partners and former college football teammates, will also join him as co-owners.
Dropping in the fourth quarter of 2023, the opening of Smalls Sliders Metairie at a high-profile, mixed-use complex like Clearview City Center signifies the appeal of the brand to premier shopping center developers. This new Can will be added to an already packed fourth quarter, with rapid expansion slated for Louisiana in Lafayette, West Monroe, Gonzales and a fifth location in Baton Rouge, as well as in Flowood, Mississippi.
“I invested in Smalls Sliders because I love not only the food, but the overall experience the brand brings to its guests,” said Brees. “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.”
Alongside Brees, Loerzel and Smith, Melissa Kernaghan will oversee the Can’s squad of employees and manage the day-to-day activities as the Metairie location’s operations director. Combined, they bring more than a decade of restaurant and franchise industry experience to the table with concepts such as Jimmy John’s, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Everbowl, Stretch Zone and more.
“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 and Kirsten Early and Stephanie Hilferty with SRSA Commercial Real Estate, Inc., exclusive representative of Clearview City Center.
Smalls Sliders currently has locations open throughout Louisiana, including Baton Rouge (Bluebonnet and Nicholson), Prairieville, Thibodaux, Shreveport, Slidell, Denham Springs and Marrero.
Obsessively focused on serving up the best cheeseburger sliders around, Smalls Sliders offers guests the chance to indulge their inner child through menu items like the classic slider, seasoned waffle fries, or a selection of milkshakes for a sweet treat. The restaurant has already garnered industry recognition, with QSR magazine featuring the brand in its “40/40 List for 2022: America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals” and Nation’s Restaurant News naming it one of the publication’s “Breakout Brands of 2023,” in addition to ranking on this year’s Entrepreneur magazine’s “Top New & Emerging Franchises” list.
To learn more about Smalls Sliders in Metairie, visit www.smallssliders.com.
For media inquiries or questions, please contact support@smallssliders.com.
About Smalls Sliders
Smalls Sliders was the brainchild of founder Brandon Landry, with former pro football NFL quarterback Drew Brees joining him as an initial investor, and is backed by industry veterans at 10 Point Capital. The QSR restaurant focuses exclusively on craveable premium cheeseburger sliders, with every meal cooked to order. Smalls Sliders delivers both drive-thru and popular walk-up experiences, serviced from a unique small footprint container design, allowing real estate flexibility and rapid construction of new restaurants. The brand champions deep commitment to service in the communities it operates. For more information, visit www.smallsliders.com.