Smalls Sliders is officially slidin’ thru Alabama with the brand’s latest franchise agreement, detailing four units across the Heart of Dixie. The breakout cheeseburger slider concept signed the agreement with established restauranteur, Mark Weeks, and marks the ninth state the brand is developing into.
Weeks brings a wealth of knowledge in both the franchise and restaurant industries, having worked with prolific brands across the country for the last 20 years. After spending time developing and ensuring the success of several concepts in the Midwest and West Coast regions, Weeks sought a return to his southern roots where he was first introduced to the Smalls Sliders brand.
“I was already looking to grow my portfolio when a friend of mine asked me if I’d heard of Smalls Sliders,” says Weeks. “After doing my due diligence in researching the concept and meeting the Smalls Sliders team, I was immediately drawn to the brand for its capacity to grow on a global scale. I love everything about it – the simplicity, the focus and dedication of the brand’s leadership team, and the overall ‘wow’ factor. Having seen just how successful the recent openings have been, I’m extremely confident in this choice and excited to begin the process of site selection.”
Weeks’ first Smalls Sliders ‘Can’ will target the Auburn territory, with an aim to open by August 2024. The three remaining units will ideally be situated across the Montgomery, Prattville, and Troy communities.
“As we round out 2023, it’s fantastic to look back and see the caliber of entrepreneurs we’ve been able to attract, and Mark is no different,” says Maria Rivera, CEO of Smalls Sliders. “Alabama is an area that is primed for our expansion, so to be able to sign for four units and kick off our growth in the state with someone as established in this field as Mark is amazing. We’re excited to continue on this path of growth and drop our first Can in the state next year.”
Smalls Sliders opened its first restaurant in 2019 and has since grown to more than 125 locations open or under development. The restaurant concept 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 its 2023 QSR 50 Contenders list.
