GoKawiilWalk-On's Cuts Restaurant Size in Half to Speed Up Expansion
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, the sports bar chain led by CEO Brandon Landry, has begun opening restaurants roughly half the size of its traditional 7,000-to-12,000-square-foot format. A new 3,700-square-foot location in Atlanta generated $4 million in sales last year, and the company plans a similar-sized site in Birmingham as part of roughly 10 new openings targeted for 2026.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Shrinking the footprint lets Walk-On's fit into strip malls, endcaps and smaller towns that couldn't support its old model, while lowering the upfront cost barrier that had scared off potential franchisees. The move stands out against a backdrop of struggling competitors like Hooters and Twin Peaks, which recently filed for bankruptcy, and Buffalo Wild Wings, which has barely expanded in years, suggesting a smaller-format strategy could reshape how sports bar chains grow.
- Walk-On's new Atlanta location is about half the size of its usual restaurants but earned $4 million in sales.
- The chain plans roughly 10 new openings in 2026, including a smaller-format site in Birmingham.
- Rivals Hooters and Twin Peaks filed for bankruptcy, and Buffalo Wild Wings has stalled expansion, giving Walk-On's an opening.
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Published there as: “‘The Script Is Flipped’: This Chain Is Shrinking Its Restaurants to Grow Faster”
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