Episode 111: Sam Ballas & Sammy Gianopoulos with Sammy’s Sliders

Sam Ballas grew up in a restaurant family, but he chose a career in finance upon graduation from college. However, 19 years later, he met Chef Sammy Gianopoulos, a Johnson & Wales University graduate with acclaimed culinary success at multiple concepts, and decided to return to the restaurant business. 

Gianopoulos yearned to create a high-quality, counter-service restaurant that could easily be replicated. In this episode, Ballas and Gianopoulos explain how combining their culinary expertise and financial acumen laid the foundation of a successful partnership.

In December 2023, they created Sammy’s Sliders, featuring chef-inspired Angus beef, antibiotic-free chicken, fresh fish, and falafel sandwiches. Their initial 2,200 square-foot Winston-Salem, NC strip mall location was an instant success. "The ‘two-slider tray’ with fries and drink for $13 helped establish us as a great value concept,” says Gianopoulos, adding, “Today's customer expects high quality, good portion, and reasonable prices. We knew we wouldn’t be able to expand without providing all three.”

In October 2024, they launched a second location in Kernersville, NC and began promoting the concept as a franchise. "Expanding through franchising works best for Sammy’s Sliders,” says Ballas. “We offer established operating systems, experienced financial ability, a low cost of entry, and relative ease of operation.”

The future looks bright for this partnership, says Ballas going on to say, “We are keeping our focus on the three basic combined steps of successful growth — serve high-quality product, maintain a hospitable service culture, and carefully select franchisees that fit our concept and vision.”