Savvy Sliders celebrated yet another grand opening this weekend. A new fortress of the fast-growing slider empire debuted Saturday at 1274 N. Ballenger Highway in Flint, replacing an old Tim Hortons coffeeshop at the corner of Flushing Road.
The Flint grand opening is a sign of things to come with ribbon cuttings in front of Savvy Sliders storefronts poised to be a recurring theme this summer. A wave of intense expansion is underway for the Farmington Hills-based chain, which intends to launch five more new locations in the metro Detroit area over the next 90 days.
Stores are coming soon to Farmington, Oak Park, Rochester, Waterford and Warren, according to Vice President of Business Development Mark Wolok.
“We’re expanding everywhere that we can find owner-operators. So we hope to have a Savvy Sliders near you soon, wherever you may be,” he told What Now Detroit.
The franchise is planting its flag in territory outside of Michigan too. It’s first Texas store is slated to open Thursday in San Antonio, with more soon to follow in Dallas and Houston, Wolok said. A Fort Lauderdale location expected to open in the next week or two will enlarge the brand’s reach to South Florida.
“There’s a demand for our brand, people are loving our food,” Wolok said. “And it’s not only the food, they’re also coming in for the experience.”
Savvy Sliders is a fast-casual franchise known for its hand-battered chicken fingers, fresh-to-order Angus beef sliders, seasoned French fries and fresh, frozen custard shakes.
The burgeoning brand is in the beginning of a massive nationwide expansion with 23 new stores in various stages of development. That includes new franchises in Lafayette, Indiana and Cleveland, Ohio, which would open in the next six months to a year.
In Michigan, sites have already been secured for Southfield, Detroit Redford Township and redevelopment’s expected to begin on those properties soon. A store will also be erected from the ground up along North Main Street in Mount Clemens.
The Flint store that opened this weekend marked Savvy Sliders’ 35th location. Most of the existing stores are scattered across Michigan, but the franchise boasts two restaurants in Columbus, Ohio.
Wolok stressed the importance of the catering side of the business, which introduces new customers to Savvy Sliders at office parties, retail stores and hospitals, events and on college campuses.
“It’s becoming the hottest, most talked about brand in Michigan,” he said. “If you have not experienced Savvy Sliders, you’re missing out. And once you do, it will match our slogan we use, which is ‘See you tomorrow.’ We’re that confident that you’ll be back.”
MICHIGAN LOCATIONS COMING SOON
5799 Dixie Highway, Waterford, MI 48328
22420 Farmington Road, Farmington, MI 48336
14257 Telegraph Road, Redford Township, MI 48239
22901 Mound Road, Warren, MI 48091
13320 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48215
21330 Greenfield Road, Oak Park, MI 48237
26336 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48034
22650 W. 8 Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48033
140 N. Main St., Mount Clemens, MI 48043
606 S. Rochester Road, Rochester, MI 48307
