Tampa: Drew Brees’ Smalls Sliders Opening More Locations

For 15 years New Orleans Saints' quarterback Drew Brees was considered a rival. His NFC South team often had a firm grip on our division. Now, Drew Brees will have a presence in the Tampa community thanks to his Smalls Sliders locations.

That's So Tampa recently reported that his tasty burger joint has decided to expand in the area. On the company's location page, you can see they have three restaurants in the works for Florida already. However, they are Ocala, Pensacola, and Panama City.

According to That's So Tampa's report, the west coast of the state is about to get its share. "Smalls Sliders is expanding its presence in the Sunshine State with a significant 9-Can agreement in Tampa, led by the powerhouse franchise operating group Purple Square Management (PSM)," they said.

Small Sliders is only about four years old. The chain was founded by restaurateur Brandon Landry, whom Brees teamed up with on other ventures, including Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux restaurant in New Orleans. Brees is also no stranger to opening franchises. After years of enjoying Jimmy John's sandwiches at Purdue University, he discovered he couldn't grab his favorite lunch in San Diego or New Orleans. Now thanks in part to Brees, there are seven Jimmy John's in the greater New Orleans area.

The intent of this restaurant concept is to bring small burgers to a big stage. It's your standard sliders concept where you usually order multiple. What's unique about the menu is that there are not many styles or burger options. The meat (or double meat) is between a toasted and buttered bun. Then, it is topped with cheese, pickles, and a special sauce.

Combo orders come with fresh-cut waffle fries and a drink. In addition, three different shakes and party packs are also available.

There is no word yet on whether Drew Brees will be coming to town to cut an opening Smalls Sliders ribbon at the first Tampa location. More information on where these slider joints will be is soon to come. For now, you can follow them and build your burger excitement by following Smalls Sliders on Instagram.

According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.

A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.

The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.

In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.

"American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity," Mr. Hudson explains.

What's fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America's feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade

Let's take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.

Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.

This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It's a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, "the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys." In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.