Sunny Street Café Sees Strong Mid-Year Momentum with Increased Guest Counts, Catering Expansion and New Pancake Menu

COLUMBUS, OH — Sunny Street Café, a beloved destination for breakfast, brunch and lunch with 22 locations in the U.S., is proud to announce an impressive mid-year performance in 2024.

“This year has been very positive so far; we’ve been fortunate that we’ve seen guest counts increase and hold steady in all of our markets,” said Mike Stasko, president of Sunny Street Café. “That certainly isn’t the case for all restaurants right now. We are really breaking industry trends.”

A particular highlight of the first half of the year has been the introduction of the brand’s “Fancy Pancake Menu.” The café launched four new pancake varieties: Strawberry Shortcake, PBJ Time, Bananas Foster and Chocolate Lava Pancakes.

“It’s gone over extremely well so far,” said Stasko. “We are early on in the roll-out stage, and that includes a menu redesign to make pancakes more prominent and really highlight the fact that they are our specialty. We’ve taken care to create recipes that are very unique. These are pancakes that I would order for breakfast, and I’m not usually a pancake person, believe it or not. These are balanced, delicious and ‘wow’ flavors that you just can’t get elsewhere.”

This year also saw continued focus on Sunny Street’s full-service breakfast catering program. Stasko says that successful off-premises operations can contribute up to 20% of total sales for franchisees, with mature catering programs accounting for upwards of 15% of that figure.

Since day one, Sunny Street Café has consistently been at the forefront of culinary creativity, making a name for itself with its award-winning dishes, made-from-scratch menu and commitment to quality. And as the company continues to grow, Stasko says there are no plans to change that. 

“We've not only grown in numbers but also in the hearts of our customers,” he said. “Our commitment to quality and community has been unwavering, and we look forward to what the future holds.”

Sunny Street Café is actively developing the St. Louis market, with plans to add two to three more locations in the area. Additionally, the brand is seeing development activities in Texas, Florida and Ohio.

"There is nothing like this brand as a franchising opportunity,” said Kathy Davidson, who heads franchise development for Sunny Street Café. “With a high AUV and yummy menu options, both business owners and team members experience amazing business hours — you're home for the school bus — truly balancing business with family life. I am excited to be a part of the team assisting in the brand's growth."

The initial investment to start a Sunny Street Café ranges from $464,545 to $1,307,514, with a reported average unit volume (AUV) of $1.266 million across 12 franchise restaurants and the highest unit soaring to $1.633 million. The brand also offers a franchisee incentive program designed to lower entry barriers and support new franchisees through their initial operational phase. 

“People want to add this daypart to their portfolio and — given our continued growth, focus on controlled expansion and the introduction of exciting new stores — now is the perfect time for investors to join us at the ground floor,” said Stasko. “Our model is a fit for those looking to build a legacy within the breakfast and lunch segment.”

To learn more about franchise opportunities with Sunny Street Café, please visit https://1851franchise.com/sunnystreetcafe/.

About Sunny Street Café 

Sunny Street Café® is a family-owned and operated breakfast and lunch concept based in Columbus, Ohio. They both franchise and operate restaurants in Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Alabama, and Texas.  Since opening their doors in 2007, family has been a key component to the way Sunny Street Café operates, as it has also become a staple in the communities it’s part of. To learn more about Sunny Street Café, visit https://ownasunnystreet.com.