When Adam Perez first stepped into a Keke’s Breakfast Cafe nearly a decade ago, he wasn’t sure what the next phase of his career would look like. After years in high-volume, late-night restaurant operations, Perez was eager for something different — something that gave him a chance to balance his passion for hospitality with his growing family life. What he found in Keke’s was more than a fresh start; it was the beginning of a journey that would define both his career and the future of the brand.
“I’ll never forget my first moment walking into Keke’s — it felt a lot like Disney,” Perez said. “You felt the energy at the door, and customers were waiting outside. There was something different.”
Perez’s love of hospitality began in childhood, visiting his mother while she worked as a nurse aide assistant and cook at a retirement center.
“I think that is where the origin of my hospitality career started,” he said. That early spark grew into a career at Disney’s Epcot and Disney Springs, followed by years working under Wolfgang Puck, at Rosen Property Hotels, and opening new concepts for B.B. King. Each experience gave Perez a unique perspective on the restaurant industry — from luxury hotels to high-energy entertainment venues.
But the long hours eventually took their toll. “I remember doing inventory at late hours and watching my kids grow up on Facebook,” he said. “I realized I was really missing out.” That search for balance ultimately brought him to Keke’s, where the daytime-only model felt like “magic.”
Perez started at Keke’s as a general manager for the flagship store, quickly becoming enamored with the system and culture. “I was obsessed with their system, who they were, and what they stood for,” he said. “It was the first time in my entire restaurant history where I was in the door at 6:30 am and we were closed at 2:30 pm.”
His dedication and leadership soon propelled him into roles overseeing brand standards, new store openings, and auditing programs. “My biggest contribution to the team is knowing who we are and staying true to who we are. They say I am a historian for the brand — some call me the godfather,” Perez said.
Today, as director of supply chain and support for product innovation, Perez ensures consistency from “the back door all the way to the customer’s mouth.” He oversees everything from vendor partnerships to menu development, all with a sharp focus on speed, quality, and consistency. “Our goal is to get our customer in and out as fast as we possibly can,” he said, “while making sure we can provide a high-quality product made fresh every time.”
Perez credits all of Keke’s success to the culture established by its founders, brothers Keith and Kevin Mahen, and now bolstered by Denny’s Corporation.
“Keith was the genius behind how we ran Keke’s, and Kevin is really the heart of the methods,” Perez said. “Being able to be in front of the two of them and asking for more details really helped set the brand standards of who we are today.”
That culture extends beyond the menu to the employees themselves. “In my hiring days, parents and moms and anybody who had kids who went to school loved Keke’s. You can be in the door at 8 o’clock and be out by 1 o’clock and make a really good paycheck,” Perez said. “We have people waiting out the door to apply for this concept.”
For Perez, the future of Keke’s is nothing short of explosive. “We are up for the challenge of being one of America’s favorite breakfast concepts,” he said. “We take classic items and make sure we protect them. We have award-winning pancakes, for example. As we evolve with diverse menus, like our Nutella Stuffed French Toast, we are very excited.”
He’s also excited about the people-first culture that continues to shape the brand. “Culture has been a massive undertaking for the Keke’s brand,” he said. “We make sure that our team members enjoy what they do and enjoy where they work.”
As Keke’s expands nationwide with the backing of Denny’s, Perez believes franchisees have a unique opportunity to get in at a pivotal moment. “We already have the architectural work of what a successful breakfast concept looks like,” he said. “We are an explosion waiting to happen.”
Learn more about franchising with Keke’s at: https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe.
Keke's Breakfast Cafe
SPONSORED
As one of Keke's longest-serving team members, Adam Perez has shaped the brand's evolution, giving future franchise owners an insider's perspective on what makes Keke's a standout investment.
When Adam Perez first stepped into a Keke’s Breakfast Cafe nearly a decade ago, he wasn’t sure what the next phase of his career would look like. After years in high-volume, late-night restaurant operations, Perez was eager for something different — something that gave him a chance to balance his passion for hospitality with his growing family life. What he found in Keke’s was more than a fresh start; it was the beginning of a journey that would define both his career and the future of the brand.
“I’ll never forget my first moment walking into Keke’s — it felt a lot like Disney,” Perez said. “You felt the energy at the door, and customers were waiting outside. There was something different.”
Perez’s love of hospitality began in childhood, visiting his mother while she worked as a nurse aide assistant and cook at a retirement center.
“I think that is where the origin of my hospitality career started,” he said. That early spark grew into a career at Disney’s Epcot and Disney Springs, followed by years working under Wolfgang Puck, at Rosen Property Hotels, and opening new concepts for B.B. King. Each experience gave Perez a unique perspective on the restaurant industry — from luxury hotels to high-energy entertainment venues.
But the long hours eventually took their toll. “I remember doing inventory at late hours and watching my kids grow up on Facebook,” he said. “I realized I was really missing out.” That search for balance ultimately brought him to Keke’s, where the daytime-only model felt like “magic.”
Perez started at Keke’s as a general manager for the flagship store, quickly becoming enamored with the system and culture. “I was obsessed with their system, who they were, and what they stood for,” he said. “It was the first time in my entire restaurant history where I was in the door at 6:30 am and we were closed at 2:30 pm.”
His dedication and leadership soon propelled him into roles overseeing brand standards, new store openings, and auditing programs. “My biggest contribution to the team is knowing who we are and staying true to who we are. They say I am a historian for the brand — some call me the godfather,” Perez said.
Today, as director of supply chain and support for product innovation, Perez ensures consistency from “the back door all the way to the customer’s mouth.” He oversees everything from vendor partnerships to menu development, all with a sharp focus on speed, quality, and consistency. “Our goal is to get our customer in and out as fast as we possibly can,” he said, “while making sure we can provide a high-quality product made fresh every time.”
Perez credits all of Keke’s success to the culture established by its founders, brothers Keith and Kevin Mahen, and now bolstered by Denny’s Corporation.
“Keith was the genius behind how we ran Keke’s, and Kevin is really the heart of the methods,” Perez said. “Being able to be in front of the two of them and asking for more details really helped set the brand standards of who we are today.”
That culture extends beyond the menu to the employees themselves. “In my hiring days, parents and moms and anybody who had kids who went to school loved Keke’s. You can be in the door at 8 o’clock and be out by 1 o’clock and make a really good paycheck,” Perez said. “We have people waiting out the door to apply for this concept.”
For Perez, the future of Keke’s is nothing short of explosive. “We are up for the challenge of being one of America’s favorite breakfast concepts,” he said. “We take classic items and make sure we protect them. We have award-winning pancakes, for example. As we evolve with diverse menus, like our Nutella Stuffed French Toast, we are very excited.”
He’s also excited about the people-first culture that continues to shape the brand. “Culture has been a massive undertaking for the Keke’s brand,” he said. “We make sure that our team members enjoy what they do and enjoy where they work.”
As Keke’s expands nationwide with the backing of Denny’s, Perez believes franchisees have a unique opportunity to get in at a pivotal moment. “We already have the architectural work of what a successful breakfast concept looks like,” he said. “We are an explosion waiting to happen.”
Learn more about franchising with Keke’s at: https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe.
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