Written by Abbey Williams // Photo by Edgar Cardiel

Slader’s Alaskan Dumpling Co. (SADCo.) celebrated 10 years of operating in Arkansas with a party. The family-owned business thanked its customers Jan. 21 in its Searcy location with a raffle for gift cards, a chance to win company merchandise and special discounts.

Alumnus Slader Marshall, owner and founder of Slader’s, said the company aimed to tailor to college students.

“With any business, especially a small business, you have to identify your niche and cater to the community you serve,” Marshall said “When I started, I was a 22-year-old restaurant owner who had recently graduated from college, so I identified my niche audience as mostly young adults/college students. In doing so, we kept our restaurant more relaxed and homey. We wanted students to feel like they had a place to go that felt like their own.”

Marshall said the company has grown as a Harding favorite since they opened in January 2014 after he graduated from Harding the year before. He said he exclusively hires Harding students, which has helped turn Slader’s into a favorite hangout spot for Harding.

“Building a community around your food or your brand is built over time by hiring the right people, doing things the right way and being consistent,” Marshall said. “We have really tried to do that and are thankful that we are still kicking around all these years later.”

At the 10-year celebration party, the prices were reverted back to the prices from when Slader’s first opened. Marshall said there are exciting things happening on the horizon, including their recently opened food truck in Bentonville, Arkansas, as well as another food truck in the Little Rock area.

“With three full-time operations, you can get SADCo. all over the state,” Marshall said. “We always have little secrets happening on the horizon, but you’ll have to stay tuned.”

Summer Armstrong, an employee at Slader’s said Harding students enjoy Slader’s as a hangout spot, especially during the winter.

“We get really, really busy during the snow days,” Armstrong said. “We used to have events that the students loved, like we do trivia nights and things like that, and they seem to really enjoy that.”

Armstrong said being close to Harding’s campus has made it convenient for students to drop by.

“We still love having all our Harding people around,” Armstrong said. “Being so close to campus is definitely where a lot of our business comes from.”

Junior Claire Morrow said working at Slader’s has given her an opportunity to connect with the community.

“I do really enjoy working for a small business,” Morrow said. “It is much more personable than other jobs I have worked at. I also love getting to connect with the community over the unique food and experience of the restaurant.”