A Michigan-based fast-food chain specializing in sliders is set to open its first restaurant in Lafayette, Indiana, on Tuesday. The new spot at 2862 Old U.S. 231 S. will offer made-to-order items and promotions to mark the occasion. Owner Mike Bauer, who also runs multiple Subway franchises, highlighted the extensive remodel of the former bank building.
Savvy Sliders, which launched its first store in 2018, has grown to states including Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Louisiana before reaching Indiana. The Lafayette outlet, owned by local entrepreneur Mike Bauer, will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bauer, who manages 22 Subway stores in Lafayette and Terre Haute, selected the site at the former First Merchants Bank location on 413 Teal Road after the bank's closure four years ago.
Bauer described the renovation as exceptional. "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," he said. "Calling it a complete transformation would be an understatement."
The staff completed training last week to prepare for operations. To celebrate the opening, the restaurant will feature deals such as drawings for $20 gift certificates for rewards program sign-ups and free food samples. "I'm going to be walking around handing food out to people, encouraging them to try it out," Bauer noted. "A lot of this will be new to them that they've never had before."
Third-party delivery services will not be available for about 10 days, allowing time to refine in-house processes. Menu highlights include sliders, chicken tenders, and ribeye sliders, with two sliders typically sufficient for a meal. Items are prepared to order, resulting in brief wait times. The chain's motto, "Quality wins every argument," guides their approach, according to Bauer. "We are going to live by those values the entire time we are open."
Bauer mentioned plans to develop additional Savvy Sliders sites in nearby West Lafayette.