Hunter Beaugez has been a physical therapist specialist for the past eight years.
His partners, including brother Taylor Rosson, own and operate ServePro restoration services from the Greater New Orleans region and into Texas and Tennessee.
On paper, they might seem to be the unlikeliest pairing to open a new hamburger concept in Mobile. But Beaugez said he’s excited about the opportunity after Smalls Sliders signed its latest multi-unit deal – what the Atlanta-based company calls a “four-Can agreement” – with the entrepreneurial team.
“Smalls Sliders is trying to enhance an old concept by making sliders bigger and more creative,” said Beaugez of New Orleans. “It’s a very innovative way of what they are trying to accomplish and plan to implement over the next year or so.”
The first Smalls Sliders will open sometime next year likely in Mobile. From there, Beaugez said there will be a new Smalls Sliders eatery opening up per year. The exact locations, he said, have not been determined.
Similar announcements have been ongoing all year in Alabama. The chain announced earlier this year that as many as five locations will open in and around Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. They also plan to target real estate in Leeds, Trussville, Gardendale, Gadsden, Huntsville, Decatur and Florence.
The company, founded in 2019 by Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux creator Brandon Landry, expects to have about 350 total agreements signed by the end of this year. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is among the chain’s earliest investors.
Beaugez said in Mobile, his team is in the “early phases” of scouting sites though a Smalls Sliders press release said the sites could be in Foley, Daphne, Tillman’s Corner and Orange Beach.
Beaugez said once a site is picked out, the chain’s prefabricated modular structures – which look akin to a shipping container – will be “dropped” and construction will begin.
“It’s a unique and interesting design,” Beaugez said. “Instead of locations, we say we’re ‘dropping a new can.’ (The company) makes a whole big thing of it when they ‘drop the can.’ And once the can is dropped, it takes eight to 10 weeks before the doors open. So once that can is dropped, it’s about hitting the ground running.”
The first Mobile area franchise, Beaugez said, will open in late spring 2025.
“It depends on the real estate, location and what we can do,” Beaugez said.
He said he had been wanting to partner with Smalls Sliders for the past year as well as with his brother whose team – which includes Will Love and Jim Metteauer – oversee ServePro sites in several states.
“We met with the executive team, and everything seems to be a home run,” said Beaugez. “It’s like they have a dream team going on over there. I have all the faith in our team and in them to make sure we put together an exceptional service and products.”
Don Crocker, chief development officer at Smalls Sliders, praised the Mobile area team. Beaguez, himself, said he plans to move to the Mobile area to run the eateries.
“We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic group to our expanding Smalls Squad,” Crocker said in a statement. “Alabama has already shown tremendous enthusiasm for our brand, and we are confident that this ownership team will maintain our high standards of excellence as we enter new communities.”
Crocker added, “The demand for our premium cheeseburger sliders is growing, and experienced operators like Hunter, Taylor, Will and Jim are crucial to our continued expansion success.”
