Chris McJunkins Expands His Franchise Portfolio with Hands-on Management at Walk-On’s
Chris McJunkins, CEO of the McJunkins Restaurant Group and owner of multiple restaurant franchises including Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux and Smalls Sliders, attributes his success to a hands-on management approach. Starting in high school as a dishwasher and later becoming a manager, he found his calling in the restaurant industry rather than corporate marketing. McJunkins currently owns 11 Walk-On’s locations across three states and four Smalls Sliders units in Louisiana. His company reported $64.3 million in sales for 2025, earning its first spot on the Franchise Times Restaurant 200 ranking at No. 180. He emphasizes operational efficiency by remodelling existing spaces rather than building new ones due to rising costs. McJunkins also values strong team culture and employee retention through promotion from within and generous bonuses, ensuring that staff benefit when the business performs well.