Drew Brees-backed fast food chain plans expansion across South Carolina

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An Atlanta-based cheeseburger slider quick-service restaurant by co-founder of Walk-On’s —Brandon Landry — has more than 200 additional locations currently in development, including several in South Carolina.

Smalls Sliders is the brainchild of restaurateur Landry, while being backed by Drew Brees — the other co-founder of Walk-On’s — and is best known for its “Can” model, which is essentially a restored shipping container painted in the brand’s distinctive bright orange.

Smalls offers an intentionally limited menu of sliders, fries, and shakes, and has identified South Carolina as a prime market for growth, largely due to the high demand for the concept in Charleston and restaurant scene across the state, according to a Smalls Sliders news release.

Smalls is looking to expand  outside of the Charleston area and continue its growth across the South Carolina market in general, the release said.

“We are excited to start dropping Cans throughout South Carolina,” said Landry. “Given the tremendous amount of Cans already in development in the region, South Carolina offers incredible opportunity across many different communities and positions our brand perfectly to expand our Frequent Sliders loyal fanbase.”

In August, the cheeseburger slider concept signed a multi-unit agreement with franchise group Sandlot LLC. The five-Can agreement marked a milestone for the brand as it continues expansion efforts across the country and brought the first Smalls Sliders location to South Carolina.

“South Carolina is a very strategic market for Smalls due to its proximity to our Atlanta Support Center, distribution capabilities, and brand growth throughout the region,” said Smalls Sliders’ Chief Development Officer Richard Leveille. “Through insights, we uncovered that Carolinians are looking for excitement in the restaurant space and are seeking alternatives to the usual big-box legacy brands.”

Leveille said they expect to develop 40-50 locations in the state over the next 10 years with initial immediate development in 2024 of three to five Cans in the Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville/Spartanburg metro areas.

“We are looking to purchase or lease real estate throughout the entire state,” he added. “Our concept requires above-average traffic and activity with approximately ½ acre of ground depending on the configuration.”

Smalls Sliders opened its first signature ‘Smorange’ colored Can in 2019.