America’s borders already have an incredible number of burger restaurants, alongside giant chains like McDonald’s and all the popular local restaurants. Thanks to a recently announced expansion deal from a thriving chain, burger fans in one part of the country now have even more choices.

This growing chain is called Smalls Sliders and specializes in seasoned waffle fries and sliders made with fresh ingredients. This week, the company unveiled a new development deal that will see entrepreneurs Aaron Zucker and Bob Peterson open nine new restaurants in North Carolina. This is a significant move for Smalls Sliders, as the company currently does not operate any locations in the southeastern part of the state.

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According to a press release from QSR Magazine, Zucker and Peterson expect to open the first of the planned locations by 2025. Raleigh, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Garner, Fayetteville, Clayton, Apex and Greenville are among the areas they will focus on when developing the restaurants.

In a statement, Maria Rivera, CEO of Smalls Sliders, expressed her confidence in Zucker and Peterson’s potential as franchisees, as their previous professional experiences benefited them. Peterson has a background in the restaurant business, while Zucker has a background in commercial real estate.

“The caliber of our franchisees continues to improve as our brand grows nationwide, and that’s absolutely true for Bob and Aaron,” Rivera said. “This couple has thought through every part of their business, and their backgrounds create a blend that’s a perfect fit for success. We’re excited to see them thrive in Raleigh, and we look forward to opening new Cans across the state.”

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While the first Smalls Sliders opened just a few years ago (2019), the chain already has over a dozen locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. More than 40 new stores are scheduled to open in 2024 alone, and hundreds are under development.

Smalls Sliders plans to open new stores in a number of new states. For example, the chain has announced a six-store deal in Oklahoma, a five-store deal in Houston, a 22-store deal in Phoenix, a nine-store deal in Tampa, Florida, and a five-store deal in Katy, Texas, all in early 2024. The Smalls Sliders website also currently lists 27 upcoming store openings in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas.

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