More information is emerging about a local businessman's big plans for Smalls Sliders , the rapidly expanding restaurant chain that features fresh, made-to-order square bun mini-cheeseburgers known as “sliders.”
As previously reported , two Smalls locations in Marion County will be open by Labor Day. The restaurants are planned for the former location of a Pizza Hut restaurant at 3394 SW College Road and at Southwest State Road 200 near Southwest 95th Street.
Local businessman Doug Cone indicated his DPC Smalls Investments, LLC is set to open the modular type restaurants in 30 North Florida locations, including the two in Marion County. Other stores are coming to Gainesville, Lake City, Jacksonville, Tallahassee and Crystal River, among other places.
“We are super excited about the concept and its future success,” Cone wrote in an email.
The Smalls Sliders locations are modular double drive-through type buildings with at least one attention-getting 40-foot-long bright orange painted shipping container decorated with the company’s “S” logo mounted on top, according to corporate and franchisee provided information.
Cone wrote that the food offered is affordable and popular.
“The product is of such quality that it sells itself, but the price point is at or below other QSR (quick service restaurants) restaurants in the Ocala area. The appeal seems to cross over to all consumer segments regardless of socioeconomics,” he stated.
Cone is president and CEO of Team Cone Distributing, a 300-employee beverage distributor in Ocala; a partner in a new Marriott AC hotel coming to downtown Ocala; and developer of hangars at the Ocala International Airport. He said 55 employees will be hired initially for each Smalls Sliders location.
“The modular structure for the restaurant and the 40-foot bright orange container (can) are built by Valiant (Modular Restaurant and Diner Construction) in Ormond Beach. Restaurant cost is $1.2 to $1.4 million compared to $3.5 to $4.5 million for a conventional 'bricks and stick' restaurant. This is a QSR restaurant concept with double drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window for ordering if you park,” Cone wrote in an email.
“The first store will have two cans (containers). One facing south the other facing west. They will sit atop the modular building that will house the restaurant. There will be outdoor covered seating for 30 people … who park and walk up to the takeout window. We will also be providing service via Uber eats, GrubHub and DoorDash,” Cone stated.
A representative of Valiant Modular said by phone that the orange shipping containers serve as great “eye catchers.”
A press release indicates “restauranteur (and) visionary” Brandon Landry developed the idea for Smalls Sliders, which is backed by 10 Point Capitol.
Former NFL quarterback Drew Brees is an investor in the venture, the press release states.
“(A)ll the locations feature a recycled shipping container that is transported and dropped via crane at their destinations, with a total restaurant size of around 800 sq. ft while maintaining top-of-the-line kitchen design,” the release states.
“Once a (restaurant) site is prepared, Smalls can open a restaurant on top of it in 8-10 weeks,” according to the press release.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala businessman Doug Cone has big plans for Smalls Sliders restaurants in Marion, elsewhere
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