LAFAYETTE, IN — Those who frequent Old U.S. 231 will soon have a new fast-food option as Savvy Sliders prepares to open its doors.
Mike Bauer, a Lafayette-based business owner who owns 22 Subway stores across Lafayette and Terre Haute, said his new franchise, Savvy Sliders at 2862 Old U.S. 231 S. will celebrate its grand opening on Tuesday, rolling into regular daily operating hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Michigan-based fast-food chain focused on sliders opened its first store in 2018. Since then, it has expanded into Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana and now Indiana.
Bauer said for the past four years his main office for his Subway franchises has been in the nearby area at 413 Teal Road, using the former First Merchants Bank. When Bauer heard the bank was closing, he said he immediately began pursing it as a potential location for a Savvy Sliders.
“My family started in the restaurant business in 1984. I’ve seen a couple hundred remodels in my time, and this is by far the most impressive change I have ever seen,” Bauer said about the building’s remodel. “Calling it a complete transformation would be an understatement.”
Bauer said although the Lafayette location is now opening, he is still pursuing several locations for Savvy Sliders locations in West Lafayette.
The new restaurant in Lafayette crew spent the past week training in the restaurant, Bauer said, familiarizing themselves with the new equipment and working out any potential kinks in the daily operations.
Bauer said deals will run for customers throughout the week to celebrate the restaurant’s opening, including drawings for $20 gift certificates for customers who sign up for Savvy Sliders’ rewards program. Customers may also find themselves with free food on opening day.
“I’m going to be walking around handing food out to people, encouraging them to try it out,” Bauer said. “A lot of this will be new to them that they’ve never had before.”
Although the restaurant will immediately swing into regular daily operating hours, Bauer said fans of third-party delivery services will likely need to wait about 10 days before Savvy Sliders is offered on any apps. The delay will serve as a buffer for any potential hiccups to smooth out, while also encouraging customers to come in person to the restaurant.
Bauer said customers unfamiliar with Savvy Sliders will find that about two sliders is enough for a meal, contrary to the typical serving size of a slider sandwich. Two of Bauer’s favorite menu items are the chicken tenders and the ribeye sliders.
Customers can also expect a brief wait time after their order, Bauer said, as the restaurant cooks its menu items made to order.
“Quality wins every argument is the motto we abide by,” Bauer said. “We are going to live by those values the entire time we are open.”
Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Savvy Sliders to open Tuesday in Lafayette, bringing new fast food
Reporting by Jillian Ellison, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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