After spending more than 20 years growing 140 Bojangles restaurants, Kim and Jeff Rigsby are taking on their next chapter with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, signing a five-unit development deal for Upstate South Carolina. The husband-and-wife team plan to bring the Florida-based breakfast favorite to Greenville and Spartanburg, continuing their track record of building thriving restaurant brands in the region.
They’re no strangers to multi-brand success. The Rigsbys currently operate Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill and Donato’s Pizza, and they’re also the founders of Rigsby’s Wings and Grill, their own full-service concept.
The Rigsbys first discovered Keke’s Breakfast Cafe during visits to their second home in Orlando, Florida. They were immediately drawn to the warm atmosphere, attentive service and how Keke’s elevated classic breakfast dishes without losing their comfort and familiarity. When they discovered the brand had franchising available, they jumped at the opportunity.
“My wife and I were out one day and ran into someone from Keke’s that we’d known for years. They mentioned the brand was starting to franchise outside of Florida, and we both laughed because it’s always been our favorite breakfast spot," Jeff said. "At the time, Keke’s was only in Florida, so we never imagined bringing it to South Carolina. After a couple of years of conversations — and already being big fans as customers — we decided Keke’s would be our next growth opportunity.”
Keke’s checked every box — strong unit economics, approachable hours and a product they already loved as regulars in Florida. With the Carolinas continuing to see population growth and rising demand for daytime dining options, the timing was ideal for a seasoned operator to introduce the brand to the region.
Jeff Rigsby’s restaurant career began humbly — as a 16-year-old crew member at KFC in 1979. He quickly rose through the ranks, spending 17 years with the brand before joining Bojangles in 1994 as a multi-unit manager. Over time, he worked his way up to director of operations, overseeing 40 restaurants before taking the leap into ownership.
“I had the opportunity to buy six restaurants in Asheville back in 2001,” Rigsby said. “We started there and grew to operate in six states — North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. When we sold our majority interest a few months ago, we had 126 restaurants.”
After stepping away from Bojangles to focus on more lifestyle-driven growth opportunities closer to home, the Rigsbys saw an opening in the Upstate market for a high-quality breakfast and brunch concept, such as Keke's Breakfast Cafe.
“What really stands out to me about Keke’s is the attention to detail and the quality of the ingredients,” Rigsby said. “They don’t try to reinvent breakfast — they take the classics and make them special, from the way the food is prepared to how it’s presented on the plate. But the biggest difference I’ve noticed is the service culture. In this segment, guests often visit two or three times a week, and Keke’s does an exceptional job of building relationships that keep people coming back.”
The Rigsbys see Upstate South Carolina as an ideal spot for Keke’s. Since moving there in 1988, they’ve watched Greenville and Spartanburg grow into busy, fast-developing communities drawing people from all over the country.
“Upstate South Carolina is really growing,” Rigsby said. “We’ve seen so many people moving here, and it’s just a great place to live. We think there’s a tremendous opportunity for Keke’s in this market.”
The team plans to open the first location soon, with an emphasis on strong operations and thoughtful site selection. “It’s about getting quality sites and quality restaurants,” Rigsby said. “Once the first one is dialed in, we’ll expand.”
Rigsby credits Keke’s success to its simple yet elevated approach to breakfast and brunch.
“They take breakfast classics and really elevate them,” he said. “People in this segment come in two or three times a week, and Keke’s builds those relationships that keep them coming back.”
The cafe’s operating hours, which end at 2:30 p.m., are another major advantage. “That schedule helps us attract great managers,” Rigsby said. “It’s a great quality of life for people in the industry, which helps us bring in top talent.”
Supported by a proven management team and a focused development strategy, the Rigsbys are preparing to launch Keke’s Breakfast Cafe across Upstate South Carolina.
“The unit economics are solid, the food and service are excellent, and the brand aligns perfectly with what we value,” Rigsby said. “We’re excited to get started — and my wife’s a big fan, so she’s ready for us to get rolling quickly.”
As the first Keke’s cafes open across the Upstate, they’ll not only bring a fresh new breakfast option to South Carolina diners but also extend the Rigsbys’ legacy of people-first hospitality and community impact.
If you’re interested in franchise opportunities with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, visit https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe
Keke's Breakfast Cafe
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The longtime Bojangles operators and multi-brand owners are bringing the Florida-based breakfast concept to Greenville and Spartanburg.
After spending more than 20 years growing 140 Bojangles restaurants, Kim and Jeff Rigsby are taking on their next chapter with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, signing a five-unit development deal for Upstate South Carolina. The husband-and-wife team plan to bring the Florida-based breakfast favorite to Greenville and Spartanburg, continuing their track record of building thriving restaurant brands in the region.
They’re no strangers to multi-brand success. The Rigsbys currently operate Salsarita’s Fresh Mexican Grill and Donato’s Pizza, and they’re also the founders of Rigsby’s Wings and Grill, their own full-service concept.
The Rigsbys first discovered Keke’s Breakfast Cafe during visits to their second home in Orlando, Florida. They were immediately drawn to the warm atmosphere, attentive service and how Keke’s elevated classic breakfast dishes without losing their comfort and familiarity. When they discovered the brand had franchising available, they jumped at the opportunity.
“My wife and I were out one day and ran into someone from Keke’s that we’d known for years. They mentioned the brand was starting to franchise outside of Florida, and we both laughed because it’s always been our favorite breakfast spot," Jeff said. "At the time, Keke’s was only in Florida, so we never imagined bringing it to South Carolina. After a couple of years of conversations — and already being big fans as customers — we decided Keke’s would be our next growth opportunity.”
Keke’s checked every box — strong unit economics, approachable hours and a product they already loved as regulars in Florida. With the Carolinas continuing to see population growth and rising demand for daytime dining options, the timing was ideal for a seasoned operator to introduce the brand to the region.
Jeff Rigsby’s restaurant career began humbly — as a 16-year-old crew member at KFC in 1979. He quickly rose through the ranks, spending 17 years with the brand before joining Bojangles in 1994 as a multi-unit manager. Over time, he worked his way up to director of operations, overseeing 40 restaurants before taking the leap into ownership.
“I had the opportunity to buy six restaurants in Asheville back in 2001,” Rigsby said. “We started there and grew to operate in six states — North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. When we sold our majority interest a few months ago, we had 126 restaurants.”
After stepping away from Bojangles to focus on more lifestyle-driven growth opportunities closer to home, the Rigsbys saw an opening in the Upstate market for a high-quality breakfast and brunch concept, such as Keke's Breakfast Cafe.
“What really stands out to me about Keke’s is the attention to detail and the quality of the ingredients,” Rigsby said. “They don’t try to reinvent breakfast — they take the classics and make them special, from the way the food is prepared to how it’s presented on the plate. But the biggest difference I’ve noticed is the service culture. In this segment, guests often visit two or three times a week, and Keke’s does an exceptional job of building relationships that keep people coming back.”
The Rigsbys see Upstate South Carolina as an ideal spot for Keke’s. Since moving there in 1988, they’ve watched Greenville and Spartanburg grow into busy, fast-developing communities drawing people from all over the country.
“Upstate South Carolina is really growing,” Rigsby said. “We’ve seen so many people moving here, and it’s just a great place to live. We think there’s a tremendous opportunity for Keke’s in this market.”
The team plans to open the first location soon, with an emphasis on strong operations and thoughtful site selection. “It’s about getting quality sites and quality restaurants,” Rigsby said. “Once the first one is dialed in, we’ll expand.”
Rigsby credits Keke’s success to its simple yet elevated approach to breakfast and brunch.
“They take breakfast classics and really elevate them,” he said. “People in this segment come in two or three times a week, and Keke’s builds those relationships that keep them coming back.”
The cafe’s operating hours, which end at 2:30 p.m., are another major advantage. “That schedule helps us attract great managers,” Rigsby said. “It’s a great quality of life for people in the industry, which helps us bring in top talent.”
Supported by a proven management team and a focused development strategy, the Rigsbys are preparing to launch Keke’s Breakfast Cafe across Upstate South Carolina.
“The unit economics are solid, the food and service are excellent, and the brand aligns perfectly with what we value,” Rigsby said. “We’re excited to get started — and my wife’s a big fan, so she’s ready for us to get rolling quickly.”
As the first Keke’s cafes open across the Upstate, they’ll not only bring a fresh new breakfast option to South Carolina diners but also extend the Rigsbys’ legacy of people-first hospitality and community impact.
If you’re interested in franchise opportunities with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, visit https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe
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