Fayetteville’s burger chain scene has undergone big changes over the last few years, and more are on the way, including at least one location of Louisiana-founded chain Smalls Sliders.
The company announced earlier this month that it plans to open nine locations with a focus on Fayetteville, Raleigh, Greenville, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Garner, Clayton and Apex in the next five years. The first of those locations should be open by next year, the news release said.
Franchisee Aaron Zucker, who is set to open the North Carolina locations alongside his business partner Bob Peterson, said Wednesday that they haven’t yet identified a Fayetteville site.
The chain calls its stores “Cans” for their tin metal structure made from shipping containers, and Zucker said the city could see multiple open in the next few years, especially in high-traffic areas with big box retail and grocery stores in upper-middle class neighborhoods.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see there are easily three or four Cans to do in Fayetteville proper and more just outside of Fayetteville,” Zucker said.
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A typical Can includes a walk-up window, a drive-thru and a covered patio with seating for 30. Around 30 to 50 employees work at each store, serving up a straightforward menu of sliders and waffle fries.
Founded by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux creator Brandon Landry in 2019, Smalls has a dozen Louisiana locations and one in Mississippi, with sights set on rapid expansion. More than 200 new locations are under development.
Fayetteville’s changing burger landscape
Back in the 2010s, Five Guys ruled the roost with locations on Raeford Road and Ramsey Street and in Freedom Town Center and Cross Creek Mall. All but one Fayetteville location of the chain named for the five brothers who founded it in 1980s Virginia have shuttered, and a few other brands threw their hats in the ring.
Two chains from out west came to Skibo Road: Colorado-based Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar opened in Cross Creek Plaza in 2017, and California chain the Habit Burger Grill opened at the Target shopping center in 2019.
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Late last year, midwestern burger and custard chain Culver’s announced the construction of a Hope Mills location.
In March, burger chain Jagger’s, a sister brand to Texas Roadhouse, opened on North McPherson Church Road, and Cook Out submitted plans to the city to take over an old KFC on Raeford Road.
Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at [email protected] or on Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Smalls Sliders plans its NC debut, including a Fayetteville restaurant
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