Walk-On’s launches smaller sports bar

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is introducing a smaller, more affordable sports bar prototype designed to help franchisees enter the market with lower upfront costs. The new model cuts the typical restaurant footprint in half, reducing space from 7,000 to 8,000 square feet down to 3,500 or 4,500 square feet. Development costs are targeted at less than $2 million, significantly below the $4 million to $4.5 million range for traditional locations.

The prototype retains key brand elements including multiple TVs for sports viewing, a prominent central bar, and a made-from-scratch menu. Despite the smaller size, Walk-On’s founder and chairman Brandon Landry says the design is intended to be "smarter" by improving efficiency and enabling stronger performance in takeout and delivery.

New Taylor clamshell grills are part of the updated kitchen setup, allowing faster cooking without compromising quality. Landry noted that the first franchisee using the grills reduced kitchen staff from 12 to seven or eight on a busy Friday night while improving ticket times and maintaining or enhancing food consistency.

Seating capacity in the new design ranges from 125 to 140 seats, compared to the usual 270 to 300 in larger locations. Landry said this smaller dining room is easier to fill and should create a livelier atmosphere throughout the day and week, contributing to the energy customers seek.

About 20% of Walk-On’s current sales already come from off-premises channels, and the new stores will feature dedicated pickup cubbies to better support takeout and delivery operations.

The first location using the prototype will open early next year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the chain’s hometown, and will be company-operated. Walk-On’s has several franchisees signed up to open units in markets nationwide and reports strong interest from both new and existing operators.

Landry emphasized that the smaller footprint opens opportunities in markets previously considered too small, such as the Granada area in Mississippi, where the group operating Walk-On’s in Southaven and Starkville is now exploring sites. He stated that the chain should not be limited to cities with populations of a couple million people.

Walk-On’s currently operates nearly 80 locations and plans to open just under 10 this year under the old model, with another nine or 10 expected in 2027 under the new approach. Landry noted that smaller locations can be built in three to four months, much faster than the year or more required for traditional builds.

He concluded by saying the chain wants to grow responsibly, ensuring it does not overextend and can open locations the right way.