Chris Fuhrmeister
A rapidly growing slider burger chain that counts former NFL star Drew Brees among its backers is eyeing a metro Atlanta expansion.
Louisiana-based Smalls Sliders signed a franchise agreement with Florida-based Purple Square Management Co. to develop the Atlanta restaurants. Purple Square intends to open two locations early next year, with the four remaining outposts to follow “soon after,” the companies announced.
Purple Square hasn’t signed any leases yet, a spokesperson told Atlanta Business Chronicle. The company is looking for sites in northwest Atlanta.
Smalls Sliders’ menu is built around cheeseburgers and fries made with premium ingredients. The chain’s restaurants are modularly designed in a format known as “cans.”
Smalls Sliders opened its first restaurant in 2019 and now has eight locations in Louisiana, according to a news release. There are 60 more restaurants in development. Brandon Landry founded the chain, and Brees was an initial investor.
The planned Atlanta locations would be Smalls Sliders’ first outside Louisiana, the spokesperson said.
“Smalls Sliders piqued our interest for many reasons, including the simplicity of the menu and the distinctive can model, both of which have allowed the brand to build a large following of incredibly loyal guests in just a few short years,” said Purple Square co-founder Vik Patel in a prepared statement.
Smalls Sliders was included in QSR magazine’s “America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals” in 2022, and Nation’s Restaurant News named the chain one of its “Breakout Brands of 2023.” Entrepreneur magazine included Smalls Sliders in its 2023 “Top New & Emerging Franchises” list.
Purple Square, founded in 2006 by Vik and Sanjay Patel, operates more than 245 franchise locations across the United States. The company’s portfolio includes Dunkin’ and Popeyes.