FL-Based Chain Restaurant Reportedly Purchased By Denny's For $82.5 Million Will Expand Beyond FL

Photo byNightcrafter, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Floridians who want to eat out and enjoy an excellent breakfast, brunch, and lunch have plenty of choices. Examples are Osprey Tavern in Orlando and Sunday House in West Palm Beach as just a couple of examples.

Floridians who want to try something new may soon have yet more options. Because there is a Florida-headquartered chain that is rapidly growing both nationally and statewide.

About Keke's Cafe And Its Florida Beginnings: According to Mashed reporting in the summer of 2022, the chain which specializes in breakfast and lunch began in Orlando, Florida, but it was originally named "Florida Waffle Shop."

Originally, the chain wanted to keep its focus on Florida. Cofounder Kevin Mahen told Forbes in 2019, in part:

"....We started in Orlando and went to Melbourne and down to Tampa. We haven’t saturated Florida yet so there’s no reason to leave. We can put 80 stores in Florida, without going to another state...."

According to Restaurant Dive, Denny's acquired Keke's in the summer of 2022 for $82.5 million, although Keke's operates independently from Denny's.

Expansion In Florida And Beyond: According to an article in What Now Orlando reporting in November of 2023 and citing The Orlando Sentinel, Keke's is planning to spread its wings beyond Florida and open 100 restaurants nationwide including in states like Tennessee, California, and Texas.

In 2023, Keke's has added to its Florida stores. For example, in September of 2023, it added two new stores in Jacksonville. And What Now Miami reports that two new stores are planned for South Florida.

1851 Franchise wrote in the spring of 2023 that under Denny's ownership, Keke's is planning to "expand more aggressively." And Nation's Restaurant News has written that Keke's plans to continue to expand into Florida.

What Patrons Have Said About Dining In Florida Keke's: It is important to understand that Keke's specializes in breakfast and lunch and therefore closes at 2:30 pm. Patrons on TripAdvisor give the Citrus Park location 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many compare it to a diner. Several people commented as to how fresh the food was. A few appreciated options for keto and gluten-free.

A reviewer named Robin wrote:

"A friend and I met here for breakfast. The service was wonderful, tea and coffee mugs filled frequently. (The) the omelet was cooked perfectly. Loved the home fries and rye toast. My friend had a waffle, eggs, sausage, and a fruit salad with yogurt. There is plenty of free parking in front, The place is sunny and quiet enough for conversation..."

The author is not affiliated with Keke's, Denny's, or any other restaurants.