Serving Up Smiles from Sun-Up through Lunch: How Eggs Up Grill Became a Welcoming Community Mainstay

Eggs Up Grill is home to the whole neighborhood, serving smiles from sun-up through lunch. Since opening in 1997 at the original location in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Eggs Up Grill has been a place where the local community could catch up with family, friends and neighbors over a homecooked-quality meal. Eggs Up Grill began franchising in 2008, growing to over 35 locations across the Southeast, making a name for itself as a homestead of hospitality.

In 2018, private investment firm WJ Partners acquired Eggs Up Grill, equipping the brand to grow and serve up its all-inclusive atmosphere and fresh dishes in even more neighborhoods across the U.S. Led by former TGI Friday’s executive Ricky Richardson, Eggs Up Grill is impressively primed to inspire smiles and become a wider community mainstay, reaching the 100-location mark by mid-2022.

“It’s been wonderful to see Eggs Up Grill’s steady expansion into more and more communities,” said Richardson. “Our goal is to serve as a kind of home-away-from-home—a place where guests can find the warm atmosphere and delicious dishes that they remember from meals under their own roof with family and close friends.”

Many factors make Eggs Up Grill a neighborly and welcoming go-to restaurant.  The brand’s focus on serving as a friendly locale for the surrounding community means that from the moment guests enter, they’re greeted by smiling team members, the sizzle of fresh bacon and the aroma of fluffy blueberry pancakes. The menu features feel-good favorites ranging from hot-from-the-griddle pancakes to signature omelets to piled-high breakfast sandwiches. Additionally, Eggs Up Grill offers to-go- and catering options so that guests can enjoy Eggs Up Grill fare outside of the four walls of the restaurant.  In short, the breakfast, brunch and lunch concept has everything to make you smile.

“Our menu truly features something for everyone so that groups of loved ones can come, enjoy conversation and make memories while each guest enjoys a delicious meal,” said Richardson.

The connections that exist between the franchisees, operators, team members and their guests are authentic. Eggs Up Grill franchisees often partner with local charities, community organizations, churches, schools and sports teams for fundraising and support.

“Guests visiting Eggs Up Grill can expect warm welcomes, friendly smiles and attentive service,” said Richardson. “We are really all about neighbors serving neighbors. That’s why our franchisees are all engaged members of their communities; they didn’t move to a new place to open a business there, they chose to bring Eggs Up Grill to their community. I love that many of our franchisees were previously Eggs Up regulars.” 

It’s no surprise, then, that Eggs Up Grill’s brand leadership team invests in exceptional training for the franchisee and service team of each Eggs Up Grill restaurant. The only company-owned restaurant out of the brand’s 30-plus locations is also home to the brand’s Training Center and Innovation Lab.  The restaurant features a meeting room and training kitchen, providing franchisees with the space they need to get hands-on experience with the brand prior to opening and operating their own restaurants. The training programs instill the importance of the community connections, the warm, friendly and attentive service and our goal to always make guests always feel right at home.

“Having this restaurant, training center and test kitchen in our backyard allows us to not only serve the Spartanburg community, but to also immerse our new franchise partners in the brand culture and training,” said Richardson.

Vice President of Operations Jeff McCabe built a seasoned team to lead training efforts for kitchen operations, food safety controls, operational best practices, local and brand marketing, financial performance tools and much more.  The one-on-one support for franchisees continues through to the restaurant’s opening—and beyond. All of this is coordinated day to day through experienced, field-based Franchise Business Consultants and supported through the brand’s leadership team. 

Another element that contributes to happy, passionate franchisees and service teams—and, in turn, an all-around friendly environment that keeps guests coming back—is the work/life balance inherent to Eggs Up Grill’s model. With operating hours from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Eggs Up Grill franchise partners and team members can serve up homemade goodness before returning home.

 “We are genuine—we speak and act with integrity, authenticity and kindness. We value family and work—in that order—so we provide an environment where people can do what they love and enjoy time with those they love. We want people to connect and converse and are committed to doing our part to give everyone a comfortable, clean place to do so.” 

Because of this neighborly outlook, “Eggs Up Grill has a much lower turnover rate than is typical of the restaurant industry,” according to Richardson. “We believe in not only nourishing food, but nourishing relationships,” Richardson said.

For guests looking for an authentic and welcoming breakfast, brunch or lunch experience, they need look no further than Eggs Up Grill.

“We believe that food should be prepared simply and swiftly so you can slow down and savor it.

We believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And we believe you should be able to enjoy it any day and any time, from morning until afternoon,” emphasized Richardson. “We seek to serve everyone who wants a fresh start with simple, flavorful food, made just the way you like it and served by friendly people who genuinely want you to have a good day. That’s the Eggs Up Grill way.”