[EXCLUSIVE] New Spot For Breakfast Coming Soon to One DeKalb Neighborhood

A growing breakfast eatery called Keke's Breakfast Cafe is expanding its metro Atlanta presence with a new location in Tucker.  The new Keke's is coming to 4353 Lawrenceville Highway, an outparcel of Cofer Crossing, where it will replace Applebee's Grill+Bar, which closed last May.  

The building measures about 5,300 square feet and would likely mark the third location in metro Atlanta for the Florida-based chain.  The company, which started in Orlando in 2006, was originally called Florida Waffle Stop, but the owners shifted to Keke's in 2010 after finding that they could not trademark their original name. Keke's is a combination of co-owners and brothers Kevin and Keith Mahen.

The brand has today grown via both franchise and corporate units to a chain of about 75 restaurants.  

Keke's entered the Atlanta market with a location on Baker Road in Kennesaw this past January and added a second unit on East Crossville Road in Roswell this past April.  Another unit is planned for a former Hooter's at 1858 Jonesboro Road in McDonough, reportedly with several others under consideration around the greater metro Atlanta area. 

Related: Hooters earlier this month closed more than 30 restaurants around the country, including four in Georgia. 

The planned growth and national expansion of Keke's is being led by Denny's, which acquired the brand in a $82.5 million deal in 2022.  Keke's acquisition by Denny's followed the 2019 acquisition of Maple Street Biscuit by Cracker Barrel in another case of legacy but stale concepts acquiring younger, "cooler" brands in a search for growth. 

For its part, Denny's once had locations all over metro Atlanta, but its local presence today is limited to a single location on Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcorss with nine other units in primarily smaller communities around the state.    

Keke's faces stiff competition as it looks to grow in Georgia with the aforementioned Maple Street already in the market and several other regional and national breakfast concepts either already well-entrenched or in early growth mode as well.  

Bradenton, Florida-based First Watch already operates more than twenty restaurants across the state, including a Tucker restaurant at nearby Hugh Howell Marketplace that opened in 2022.  Spartanburg-based Eggs Up Grill has also quietly created a significant presence in Georgia with thirteen locations open and more planned, according to real estate sources.    

Metro Atlanta is also home to several locations of Snooze an A.M. Eatery, Another Broken Egg Cafe, Egg Harbor Cafe, and Flying Biscuit Cafe.  Louisville-based Biscuit Belly has one Atlanta area location in Acworth but is actively scouting the state to add to its local presence.  

Although many trendy breakfast eateries would have you perceive them as "better for you" options, they would be foolish to write off Atlanta's Waffle House and its hundreds of locations and loyal patrons.  

What is your all-time favorite breakfast food?  Have you been to Keke's?  What is your favorite breakfast spot in metro Atlanta?  

Please share your thoughts below.