Keke’s Breakfast Cafe® is rewriting the playbook for breakfast and brunch franchising. With a proven model, best-in-class support and soaring demand across the nation, Keke’s offers the ultimate opportunity for entrepreneurs to create a fresh start — both for themselves and their communities. Backed by the powerhouse of Denny’s Corporation, Keke’s is positioned to become a household name in every major market — and now is the perfect time to get in on the ground floor of its next chapter.

A Beloved Brand, A Bold New Phase

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe was launched in 2006 by two brothers who had recently relocated from Philadelphia to Florida. Disappointed by the lack of great breakfast spots reminiscent of their hometown favorites, they set out to create something better — a modern take on the classic American cafe, built around fresh ingredients, generous portions, a spotless environment and warm, efficient service.

“The community embraced it immediately, and from there it grew,” said Ardag Tachian, senior director of franchise development. “About three years ago, Denny’s acquired the concept from the founders, Kevin and Keith — that’s where the name Keke’s comes from, the first two letters of each of their names.”

Since the acquisition, Keke’s has doubled down on growth, expanding into markets like Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville, Nevada, Colorado, California and beyond. With its impressive average unit volumes and simple, streamlined operations, Keke’s has become a standout opportunity in the breakfast segment.

“We’ve been around for almost 20 years,” said Jon Ahrendt, senior director of franchise relations. “We know what we’re doing, we know our model works and we’re now investing in markets we know are good for us. Keke’s corporate will look to maintain 5% to 10% of the system as company-owned locations. We also do what we call ‘seed and feed’ — investing our own resources into launching new markets. Sometimes we’ll keep those locations corporate, or we may transition them to franchisees later. That kind of financial and operational commitment from corporate is a huge advantage for our franchise partners.”

Keke's Breakfast Cafe has received several awards in the past year, including one of Nation's Restaurant News' 100 Under 100: Emerging Restaurant Chains, Best Pancakes in Florida by Love Food and Best Breakfast Joint in Tampa by Tampa Magazine.

High Volume, Short Hours, Strong Margins

Keke’s is a made-to-order breakfast and lunch concept that operates just one shift per day — typically 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. That schedule allows franchisees to enjoy a better work-life balance, while staff scheduling becomes dramatically simpler in a challenging labor market.

“Our menu focuses on breakfast but also includes a robust lunch offering,” said Tachian. “The benefit is that we’re doing high volume all within a 7.5-hour window. Breakfast tends to carry lower food costs than other dayparts, which is another advantage for franchisees. It's an incredibly efficient business model.”

One key advantage of this model, Tachian points out, is that franchise partners only need to staff for one shift. “Labor is a real challenge in the industry right now, and this model helps ease that burden,” he said. “Plus, it gives the franchise owner and employees more personal time. It's pretty unique to be in the restaurant business and still be home in the afternoons and evenings with family and friends.”

With fresh ingredients, very limited frozen products and food costs typically lower than other dayparts, Keke’s combines quality with profitability. Signature items like the Florida Pancakes — stacked high with vibrant fresh strawberries, banana, blueberries and powdered sugar — and edge-to-edge omelets made with cracked-to-order eggs serve as reminders of what a great breakfast should be.

And at Keke’s, exceptional hospitality isn’t a slogan — it’s a system. The team leverages advanced sentiment tracking through restaurant analytic company BlackBox Intelligence to constantly monitor reviews, ratings and social media feedback, ensuring every guest experience meets the brand’s high standards.

“Our ability to take care of our guests is industry-leading,” said Ahrendt. “We’re highly rated and proud of that. And it’s because of our focus on service — fast, friendly and consistent.”

Another one of the most distinctive elements of Keke’s experience is its local-first atmosphere. “When you walk into a Keke’s in Delray Beach, you’ll see that city’s name on the wall,” said Tachian. “We aim to be part of the fabric of every community we serve.”

This explains why Keke’s restaurants saw an impressive average AUV of $2,089,007 in 2024 for all franchised restaurants that reported through the iLumen Reporting Software, with the top half of franchise restaurants seeing net sales of $2,589,666, according to the brand’s most recent Franchise Disclosure Document. The total investment necessary to establish one Keke’s Restaurant ranges from $622,825 to $1,887,313.

Backed by Denny’s, Built to Last

With more than 70 years in the restaurant business, Denny’s Corporation brings deep operational expertise, supply chain strength, vendor partnerships and franchising know-how to the Keke’s model. 

Franchisees benefit from shared services including site selection, lease negotiation, kitchen equipment sourcing, training and ongoing support, not to mention an ownership and management team who bring over 150 years of collective operational expertise from top brands like Outback, Bonefish Grill and Chili’s. 

“We’re purposefully maintaining brand separation between Denny’s and Keke’s in the eyes of the consumer,” said Ahrendt. “But behind the scenes, the support and infrastructure are incredibly valuable for our franchisees.”

Real estate options are flexible, with the brand capable of operating in inline, freestanding or endcap locations, all within an efficient and cost-effective footprint of 3,800 to 4,500 square feet. Keke’s is also investing in a refreshed, modern cafe design for all new locations. The new “Fresh Starts” look includes updated colors, art, lighting and a visual identity that ladders into the larger brand positioning and hearkens to its Florida roots.

“The result is a refreshed design that’s warm, clean and timeless — not just trendy,” said Ahrendt. “It creates a bright, inviting space that reflects our identity and gives guests a fresh start to the day.”

Meanwhile, the brand is rolling out tech upgrades, refining off-premise dining through its Keke’s Anywhere To-Go and Catering program, and exploring new CRM and paid media strategies to amplify reach and efficiency.

“We’re constantly refining the model and working to bring investment costs down,” said Ahrendt. “If our franchisees are successful and profitable, the brand succeeds as well.”

Why You and Why Now?

Looking ahead, Keke’s is targeting to open between 12-20 cafes in 2025. And who exactly are they looking for to help guide this growth?

“While restaurant experience is a plus, it isn’t a requirement. We’re open to investor group models with designated approved operators,” said Tachian. “As long as there’s someone involved who understands how to run a business and lead a team. The ideal candidate is business-savvy, passionate about hospitality and aligned with Keke’s values of service, community and consistency.”

With explosive growth, unmatched AUVs, Denny’s backing and wide-open territory, Keke’s Breakfast Cafe offers an unbeatable opportunity for entrepreneurs ready to join a purpose-driven brand with a proven track record in the $15.6 billion breakfast and brunch industry.

“Now is a great time to invest in Keke’s,” said Tachian. “Over the past 20 years, we’ve proven the concept is strong. We're on the verge of becoming a nationally recognized brand, and we have wide-open availability in many great markets — but that won’t last long. The breakfast and lunch segment is booming, and unlike other major players, many big breakfast brands don’t franchise. We do — and we’re ready to grow.”

For more information on franchising with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, visit: https://www.kekes.com/franchise.