Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, voted “No. 1 Sports Bar in North America” by ESPN, is coming to Alexandria, Louisiana, and bringing along its fresh Louisiana cuisine, fun game-day atmosphere, and a bevy of America’s Cheerleaders to make every guest feel welcome.
Walk-On’s Enterprises co-founder Brandon Landry announced that the company has executed a franchise agreement with Brandon Thompson, a successful franchisee of multiple Subway restaurants in central Louisiana and founder of The Sandbar Frozen Drinks daiquiri bar business. Thompson moved to Alexandria after earning his business degree at LSU.
“Walk-On’s is a great brand with an exceptional management team that has developed a unique operating style, outstanding menu and fun atmosphere,” Thompson says. “It’s a great fit for my team and me, and it will be the perfect addition to the Alexandria dining landscape. We intend to be long-time franchisees of Walk-On’s and hope to one day take the brand to other locations around the country.”
It’s been a busy 12 months for Baton Rouge-based Walk-On’s. After putting the final pieces in place to support its move into franchising, the company announced its first franchise agreement last January for a new Walk-On’s in Lake Charles, which opened in November. New locations in Houma and Shreveport also opened their doors in 2015.
In May, New Orleans Saints superstar Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, bought into Walk-On’s Enterprises as co-owners. Drew pointed out that Walk-On’s is “a great place to bring my family, teammates, and business colleagues,” and that they were excited to help “expand the brand across the nation.”
“I’ve been very impressed with Brandon and his team ever since we met a few months ago and started talking about bringing a Walk-On’s to Alexandria,” Landry says. “He’s been very successful with other restaurant concepts, and while Walk-On’s is obviously quite different, Brandon has an obvious passion for our brand that has grown ever since he was a student at LSU. I have no doubt that the people of Alexandria are going to love the food and atmosphere in their very own Walk-On’s when it opens later this year.”
Walk-On’s currently has seven locations—two in Baton Rouge and one each in New Orleans, Lafayette, Houma, Shreveport, and Lake Charles. Other locations are under construction in Juban Crossing, Zachary, Covington and Lubbock, Texas. Several additional markets across the Southern United States are likewise on the drawing board.
