Florida’s slider scene is getting another boost. Smalls Sliders has signed a deal for four new restaurants along the state’s Atlantic Coast, with Port St. Lucie expected to get the first one. The move comes as other slider chains expand in Florida, giving burger fans more options for a quick meal.
Announced October 15, the four-restaurant franchise agreement covers a stretch of the coast from the Space Coast south through the Treasure Coast to Jensen Beach. The restaurants are planned, not open; the company says its franchise partners are still searching for sites.
Where the four Florida restaurants could go
Smalls Sliders has identified a broad Atlantic Coast development territory rather than four confirmed street addresses. The area extends from Florida’s Space Coast down toward Jensen Beach, taking in communities across the Treasure Coast.
Port St. Lucie is first in line. Franchise partners Joe Sloboda and Stanley Tsung expect their initial restaurant to open there, but they have not announced a property, construction date or grand-opening schedule.
The other three planned restaurants have not been assigned publicly announced cities. That means nearby residents should not assume a location is coming to their particular neighborhood until the company names a site.
Who’s opening the restaurants?
Sloboda and Tsung operate through Stacked Hospitality, a restaurant development group with experience in Florida and overseas. The partners have helped expand franchise businesses in Florida, Brazil and Taiwan, according to the October announcement.
Sloboda has lived in South Florida since the early 1980s. Tsung, who moved from Brazil to Fort Lauderdale in 2014, also has connections to the region. The partners plan to take an active role in developing and operating all four restaurants.
For Smalls Sliders, the deal extends an existing Florida presence rather than launching the chain in the state for the first time. The company has opened restaurants in markets including Ocala and Pensacola, and the new agreement focuses on another part of Florida.
What makes Smalls Sliders different?
The chain serves cooked-to-order cheeseburger sliders, seasoned waffle fries and hand-spun milkshakes. Its restaurants have a distinctive look: bright orange, shipping-container-style buildings called “Cans.”
The compact format is designed for a short menu and speedy service. Smalls Sliders opened its first restaurant in 2019 and said this month it had grown to more than 50 operating Cans, with additional restaurants in development across 30 states.
The brand was created by restaurateur Brandon Landry and counts former NFL quarterback Drew Brees among its investors. That recognizable backing may draw attention, but the immediate question for Florida diners is where the four new locations will actually be built.
When will the new Smalls Sliders open?
No opening dates have been announced for the four Atlantic Coast restaurants. Sloboda and Tsung are actively evaluating properties, with Port St. Lucie intended as the first stop.
For now, the confirmed news is a four-unit development commitment along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. The next useful update for local burger fans will be the announcement of a specific site—and eventually a date to get in line for sliders.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment