Smalls Sliders has big plans for Central Florida and beyond.
The fast-casual restaurant is getting ready to open two new locations — with more on the way, according to franchise partner William Cone. In April, a Smalls Sliders will open at 1545 CR 210 W in St. Johns. Then, in summer 2026, a Middleton location will open at 2228 Intermediate Drive — complete with golf cart parking and drive-thru. Down the line, Cone and his team have plans to open a location in the Villages in 2027, with Daytona Beach in the works, as well. Long term plans are to open as many as 40 “cans” in Florida and South Georgia.
If you’re not familiar with Smalls Sliders, their restaurants are built from 800-square-foot modular shipping containers, referred to as “cans”. Cone says that once a site is secured and a foundation is poured, a crane drops the “can”, custom made in Ormond Beach, in place. The result is a cheerful little shop ready to serve a new neighborhood.
Smalls specializes in sliders that are cooked to order from fresh, never frozen, ground beef. “As soon as you put your order in, we’re putting that bad boy on the griddle just for you,” says Cone who says it’s an absolute must to order a side of queso. “We’ve made the cup wide enough so you can dunk your slider right into that cheesy goodness.”
