By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux has released building renderings and announced the potential opening date for the Trussville location.
(Photo courtesy of Walk-On’s)
Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, a Louisiana-based sports bar, was once named the No. 1 Sports Bar in America by ESPN.
Matt Roth, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux franchisee for the Birmingham territory, said opening in Trussville was always a priority, and they are looking forward to the opportunity to grow.
Walk-On’s received concept approval for its new location next to the new board of education building within the Hamilton Place Development in April 2022.
Roth said as of right now, there is not a set date for the opening.
“It will probably be about a year from when we break ground,” Roth said. “We are getting our final bids on a construction probably next Friday, and then once we get that, it’ll probably take us a week or two to go through the bids and decide on which direction we’re going to go. I’m thinking we’ll open maybe in the Fall of 2023.”
The original Walk-On’s was started nearly 20 years ago by two LSU basketball players, Brandon Landry and Jack Warner.
“They had a class while in school where they had to open up a business, and they drew up a business plan to open up a sports bar,” Roth said. “They actually forgot to put a kitchen on their proposal for the class, and so they end up getting a C in the class because of that.”
Despite the class grade, the professor told Landry and Warner that the plan had potential if they wanted to pursue it. Thus Walk-On’s was born.
The first restaurant location was opened between Tiger Stadium on LSU’s campus and Alex Box Baseball Stadium.
“They were very well positioned for their first location and had incredible success,” Roth said.
Years later, Warner wanted to get out of the partnership and sold his half to Drew Brees and another businessman from New Orleans. Landry remains with Walk-On’s as Founder and CEO.
“There’s really no better way to describe the uniqueness of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux,” Walk-On’s website stated. “We start every dish from scratch and use fresh ingredients to bring our mouthwatering Cajun cuisine to life. And whether you’re here for dinner with the family, date night, cocktails with the girls, or to watch a game on the big screen, we’re always happy to share our Louisiana culture with you.”
Walk-On’s first came to the Birmingham area in 2017, when there were “only about 10 to 50 locations open.” Roth explained that the Birmingham location in Graystone was number 33, and then in December 2021, the 60th Walk-On’s was opened in Hoover.
The Trussville location will be the third in the Birmingham area, and Roth said he wished they would have gotten to Trussville earlier.
“Our first restaurant opened 94 days before COVID, so that has slowed the growth of everything down,” Roth said. “We have bought land on Highway 11 across from the Winn Dixie between the school board building and the gas station.”
Walk-On’s philosophy is not just to be in the community but to be a part of it.
“We’re going to engage with the high school, the travel ball baseball teams, the local clubs, and committees,” Roth said. “We’re just going to treat them to some flavorful food and have a good time watching sports on TV, whether after church on Sunday or bringing kids in after baseball games; it fits everybody’s needs.”
