November 02, 2026 // Franchising.com // INDIANA – Smalls Sliders, the industry-disrupting cheeseburger slider brand, has signed a new three-Can development agreement with Keystone Management Group to bring the rapidly growing concept to Northwest Indiana.
The agreement marks Keystone Management Group’s second development deal with Smalls Sliders, building on the five-Can agreement the group signed for Louisville, Kentucky, in late 2025. With its latest commitment, Keystone Management Group now plans to develop eight Smalls Sliders Cans across the two markets.
Backed by more than 20 years of restaurant operations and franchise ownership experience, the group saw an opportunity to deepen its investment in Smalls Sliders after experiencing firsthand the brand’s differentiated model and growth potential.
“After signing our first agreement with Smalls Sliders, we became even more confident in the opportunity behind the brand and knew we wanted to continue growing alongside the team,” said a spokesperson with Keystone Management Group. “Northwest Indiana is a natural next step for us, and we’re excited to introduce Smalls Sliders to new communities while continuing to build out our portfolio with a concept we believe has tremendous potential.”
The team plans to develop three Cans throughout the region, building on Smalls Sliders’ growing presence in Indiana following the opening of the brand’s first Can in the state in Muncie earlier this September. The new development will introduce Smalls Sliders’ signature cheeseburger sliders, waffle fries and shakes to more guests while further establishing the brand’s footprint across Indiana.
“Having an experienced group choose to expand its commitment to Smalls Sliders speaks volumes about both the strength of our model and the relationships we’re building with our operators,” said Ryan Crumley, Chief Development Officer at Smalls Sliders. “Keystone Management Group brings deep operational experience and an understanding of what it takes to grow restaurant concepts across multiple markets. We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with the team as they bring three Cans to Northwest Indiana.”
Smalls Sliders serves fresh, cooked-to-order cheeseburger 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 over 55 Cans now open and hundreds in development across 30 states.
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 realestate@smallssliders.com and Stephen Smith at stephen.smith@smallssliders.com.
For more information on Smalls Sliders, slide thru to www.smallssliders.com or visit www.smallsslidersfranchising.com to learn more about franchising opportunities.
Smalls Sliders is one of the fastest-growing brands in the restaurant industry, specializing exclusively in fresh, cooked-to-order cheeseburger sliders that are small in size but big in taste. Smalls Sliders is the brainchild of restaurateur visionary Brandon Landry and is backed by 10 Point Capital and former NFL star Drew Brees, as investors. For more information on how Smalls Sliders is the biggest thing to happen to burgers since buns, visit www.smallssliders.com.
SOURCE Smalls Sliders
As a fast-growing concept dedicated to serving fresh, cooked-to-order cheeseburger sliders, the Smalls Sliders franchise opportunity brings real estate flexibility and rapid construction of new restaurants with its unique modular design.