Mini-burger chain Smalls Sliders is moving toward opening its first Northeast Florida location in St. Johns County.
The county issued a permit Feb. 9 for a wayfinding monument sign for the restaurant. City-owned utility JEA issued a service availability letter Dec. 11.
Taylor Design & Sign Inc., of St Augustine, is the contractor. The project cost is $2,480.
It is the only permit issued by the county for the project, with plans for the 800-square-foot restaurant still in review.
Site plans show 14 parking spaces, a dual drive-thru and an outdoor dining area with artificial turf. Indoor dining is not in the plans.
The site is east of Interstate 95, across from the mixed-use development The Fountains at St. Johns. Smalls Sliders operates restaurants in Ocala, Pensacola and Clearwater, with locations planned in Destin and Panama City.
According to the company’s website, Smalls Sliders has 30 stores in nine states. Its menu features burger sliders with up to two patties and bacon, grilled cheese sandwiches, waffle fries and milkshakes.
Prices at its Stockbridge, Georgia, location include sliders for $2.79, grilled cheese sandwiches for $2.78, waffle fries for $2.39 and milkshakes ranging from $5.29 to $8.50.
Sanford-based CPH Consulting LLC is listed as the civil engineer for the project. 210 East LLC is the owner.
Smalls Sliders was founded by Brandon Landry, a former walk-on basketball guard at Louisiana State University. The Louisiana-based chain counts former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees among its investors.
Landry founded another concept, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in 2003. The sports bar chain opened at The Pavilion at Durbin Park in the county in October. Brees is an investor in that enterprise, too.
Walk-On’s has about 80 locations in 12 states, including seven in Florida.