A Chance Visit to Keke’s Breakfast Cafe Leads Two Friends to a Six-Unit San Antonio Deal

Longtime friends Danny Ohioze and Wale Adebiyi had spent years talking about going into business together when Adebiyi sent Ohioze an unexpected text from a restaurant in Dallas: “We need to open this business.”

Adebiyi hadn’t even received his food yet.

The restaurant was Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, a growing breakfast and lunch franchise known for its made-to-order meals. Adebiyi had stopped there with his wife while looking for somewhere to eat, but what began as an impromptu meal ultimately set the two friends on the path toward signing a six-unit development agreement to bring Keke’s to San Antonio.

For Ohioze and Adebiyi, the decision was also the latest step in a shared entrepreneurial goal that predates their discovery of the brand. Both have built careers in technology, with Ohioze working in cyber and technology risk management and Adebiyi in networking and IT security. Adebiyi had even operated a small business while attending university.

Over the years, the friends continued discussing opportunities they could pursue together. They wanted to build generational wealth for their families and create something their children could eventually benefit from. After Adebiyi discovered Keke’s, Danny visited the concept himself and was impressed by the restaurant’s operations. A trip to Florida for Discovery Day ultimately convinced them they had found the opportunity they had been looking for.

Now, the longtime friends plan to establish six Keke’s restaurants across San Antonio, building the business together in a city they believe has room for more high-quality breakfast and lunch options.

1851 spoke with Danny and Wale about their friendship, their path to entrepreneurship, what convinced them to choose Keke’s and what they hope to build in San Antonio.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story.

Danny Ohioze: I’m in the cyber and technology risk management world and currently work as a senior manager. I’ve known Wale for many years, and he is someone I consider a friend and a brother. Our families are friends as well.

We’ve always believed that one of the best ways to build generational wealth is to be business-minded and provide a solution to a problem. There are all kinds of problems you can solve, but people will always need breakfast and lunch. We had the idea to go into business together so we could build a solid foundation for ourselves and create a foundation for our kids as well. That was one of the main reasons we decided we wanted to pursue business ownership.

We have always had a shared determination to work hard, build a meaningful life, and create something lasting. Over time, we have established ourselves and are now taking the next step by building something of our own. We want others to see what we are creating and understand that, at its heart, this is about family, community, and building a legacy we can be proud of.

Wale Adebiyi: My professional background is in networking and IT security, and I’ve built my career in the information technology field. While I’ve enjoyed growing professionally in IT, business ownership has always been something I wanted to pursue. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset and knew that at some point I wanted to take that next step, build something of my own, and create something meaningful and lasting.

For me, moving into business ownership is the fulfillment of a goal I’ve had for a long time. It’s an opportunity to apply the discipline, problem-solving skills, and experience I’ve gained throughout my career toward building a successful business and creating a legacy for my family.

1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?

Adebiyi: We had been looking for the right business opportunity for some time, but we wanted something that genuinely fit our values and the kind of life we wanted to build. One day, my wife and I were in Dallas looking for somewhere to eat, and we came across Keke’s.

From the moment we walked in, we were impressed. The restaurant looked great, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the quality and presentation of the food really stood out to us. My wife immediately started talking about how good everything looked, and before our food even arrived, I sent Danny a text saying, “We need to open this business.”

As we learned more about Keke’s, we found even more reasons to believe it was the right fit for us. One of the things that really stood out was the culture surrounding the restaurant’s early closing time. We appreciate that the concept allows owners and team members to have a better work-life balance and still have time for family. Because family is very important to us, that was a major part of the appeal.

The combination of high-quality food, a strong restaurant concept, and a culture that values balance made Keke’s different from other opportunities we had considered. After that first visit, I took some pictures, we submitted an inquiry to learn more about the brand, and I spoke with Danny about the opportunity. From there, we began seriously exploring the franchise together, and that is really where our Keke’s journey started.

1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?

Ohioze: I’ve known Wale for a long time, so there’s a strong level of trust between us. We trust each other’s judgment and have always been open to exploring different business opportunities together. When he first told me about Keke’s, I decided to look into it more closely, and the more I learned, the more I felt it could be a great opportunity for us.

What really stood out to me was visiting Dallas and experiencing Keke’s firsthand. I was impressed by how efficiently the restaurant operated, the short wait times, the cleanliness of the environment, and the overall customer experience. Seeing everything in action gave me a much better understanding of what made the concept different.

Discovery Day in Florida really solidified our decision. The experience gave us an opportunity to learn more about the brand, meet the people behind it, and understand the culture and support system. Everything we experienced reinforced our confidence in the opportunity. We knew Keke’s was a brand we wanted to grow with and, just as importantly, a franchise family we wanted to be part of.

1851: What is the plan for the future?

Ohioze: We’ve been on this journey for some time, and our goal is to develop our territory and establish Keke’s as a strong presence throughout the San Antonio area. San Antonio is a very family-oriented city, and there is a consistent demand for quality breakfast and lunch options.

There are only a handful of restaurants that are doing it exceptionally well, and their waitlists are often extremely long. To me, that’s a clear indication that there is a strong market and an opportunity to bring something new to the area. We see Keke’s as a great fit for San Antonio and an opportunity to give families another high-quality option.

With six locations planned, our goal is to build a strong presence for the brand, serve the community well, and grow the business over time.

1851: Do you have any advice for other prospective owners starting the journey?

Adebiyi: The advice I would give to anyone starting this journey is to never underestimate yourself or what you’re capable of achieving. We’ve learned so much along the way, and we’re still learning. A lot of the experience comes from taking that first step, facing challenges, and figuring things out as you go.

You can’t always wait until everything is perfect or until you feel completely ready. Sometimes you have to take the opportunity in front of you, keep moving forward, and be willing to learn throughout the process. Don’t sit back and wait for things to happen—believe in yourself, take action, and work toward making them happen.

Ohioze: My advice is to trust the process, stay focused, and don’t give up. The journey isn’t always going to be easy. We’ve faced obstacles along the way, and there have been times when the process felt longer than we expected. But we’ve learned that you have to keep moving forward and stay committed to the bigger picture.

If business ownership is something you truly want, you have to be patient, persistent, and willing to work through the challenges. Trust the journey, keep pushing forward, and remember why you started.

About Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Keke's Breakfast Cafe is a Florida-born restaurant chain specializing in breakfast, brunch and lunch favorites. Known for its freshly made meals, Keke's offers a wide range of options, including pancakes, waffles, omelets and other classic dishes. With a commitment to high-quality ingredients and excellent customer service, Keke's Breakfast Cafe provides a welcoming and relaxed dining experience for customers of all ages. The cafe currently operates in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Nevada, Texas, Colorado and California, with other locations in multiple U.S. states slated in the near future. For more information, please visit www.kekes.com and follow Keke's on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.