A Louisiana-based restaurant chain specializing in cheeseburger sliders plans on opening four new locations in Alabama, beginning next year.

Smalls Sliders is eyeing locations in Auburn, Troy, Montgomery and Prattville, according to QSR Magazine.

The Auburn restaurant has a target opening of August 2024.

Smalls Sliders has more than 100 restaurants in eight states.

Restauranteur Mark Weeks signed the deal with the franchise. Weeks has developed several concepts in the Midwest and West Coast.

“I was already looking to grow my portfolio when a friend of mine asked me if I’d heard of Smalls Sliders,” Weeks said. “After doing my due diligence in researching the concept and meeting the Smalls Sliders team, I was immediately drawn to the brand for its capacity to grow on a global scale.

“I love everything about it – the simplicity, the focus and dedication of the brand’s leadership team, and the overall ‘wow’ factor. Having seen just how successful the recent openings have been, I’m extremely confident in this choice and excited to begin the process of site selection,” Weeks said.

Maria Rivera, CEO of Smalls Sliders, said Alabama “is an area that is primed for our expansion.”

Smalls Sliders opened its first restaurant in 2019 with a no-nonsense menu of burger sliders, grilled cheese sandwiches, fries, shakes and the Biggie Smalls, a double-meat slider.