Smalls Sliders Signs 4-Unit Deal in Austin

Smalls Sliders, the industry-disrupting cheeseburger slider brand, has signed a new development agreement to bring four Cans to North Austin, further expanding the brand’s footprint across Texas.

The new Cans will be led by Arun Rao, Ramesh Gudapuri, Vara Pacha, and Ashok Reddy, all of whom bring entrepreneurial background and deep ties to the Austin community. Their experience is complemented by careers in engineering and restaurant operations, including Crave Cookies and an Indian restaurant concept.

“We’re looking forward to beginning our partnership with Smalls Sliders. From the start, our team was drawn to the brand’s efficient operations and high-quality products,” said Rao. “As we grow with the brand in North Austin, we’re thrilled for residents to experience what initially drew us to the brand.”

Under the agreement, the group will develop a minimum of four Cans across North Austin over the next few years, with the first Can slated to open in 2027. As members of the community, the group also plans to deepen its local involvement as development gets underway, including joining area chambers of commerce and building connections throughout the communities it will serve.

“We’re proud to continue our growth in Texas with Arun, Ramesh, Vara, and Ashok, who will be great partners for expansion,” said Richard Leveille, VP of Franchise Development. “Austin represents a strong whitespace opportunity for Smalls, and this agreement is a great example of how we’re scaling with the right operators in the right markets.”

Smalls Sliders serves fresh, cooked-to-order sliders, seasoned waffle fries, and hand-spun milkshakes from its signature Smorange™-colored shipping containers, called “Cans.” This deliberately simple menu, focused on quality and speed, has propelled the brand from its first location in 2019 to more than 55 Cans open and hundreds in development across 30 states, attracting experienced multi-brand franchisees nationwide.

As part of its continued expansion in the region, Smalls Sliders is actively seeking real estate opportunities throughout the market. The brand is currently evaluating sites for future Cans and encourages those interested in connecting with the team to contact [email protected] and Stephen Smith at [email protected].