---
title: "Keke's Breakfast Cafe Targets Knoxville for Franchise Growth"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/6a8a5f50-5468-409a-82a7-3f46e7c80734
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe/kekes-breakfast-cafe-knoxville-franchise-growth-2732566
category: "Bakery & breakfast"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Bakery & breakfast"
published: 2026-07-02T19:14:13.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T21:42:17.693Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1783019074_2732566.png
---

# Keke's Breakfast Cafe Targets Knoxville for Franchise Growth

**TL;DR:** Keke's Breakfast Cafe targets Knoxville, Tennessee, as a priority growth market for franchise development, aiming to open three to four locations and create 125 to 150 new jobs. The brand seeks franchise partners with strong leadership and business experience to expand in the area.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2026-07-02. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe/kekes-breakfast-cafe-knoxville-franchise-growth-2732566).*

## Story

Keke's Breakfast Cafe, the 80-plus-unit breakfast-and-lunch franchise, has named Knoxville, Tennessee, a priority growth market for franchise development. The area, which has a strong restaurant market and year-round activity driven by the University of Tennessee, can support three to four Keke's locations, allowing for approximately 125 to 150 new jobs.

"Knoxville checks many of the boxes we look for when evaluating expansion markets," said Ardag Tachian, senior director of franchise development. "It's a growing city with a strong local economy, an established dining culture and a steady flow of residents and visitors throughout the year. We see an opportunity to introduce more guests to the Keke's experience while partnering with entrepreneurs who want to build a long-term business."

Keke's has grown by serving fresh, made-to-order breakfast and lunch in a family-friendly environment. The brand believes Knoxville's growing economy, established restaurant scene and strong daytime traffic create the right conditions for long-term success.

The University of Tennessee generates consistent daytime activity in Knoxville through sports, conferences, campus visits, alumni gatherings and other university-related events. Combined with strong restaurant sales and continued population growth, the city offers a favorable environment for a breakfast-and-lunch concept. New Keke’s locations will also benefit from existing brand awareness in Tennessee, driven by its Nashville restaurants.

"What sets Keke's apart is our focus on fresh, made-to-order food and creating a place where guests feel at home," Tachian said. "We believe people appreciate quality, consistency and friendly service, and that's what we strive to deliver every day. We think Knoxville is ready for another premium breakfast and lunch option."

As Keke's expands in Knoxville, the brand is looking for franchise partners with strong leadership and business experience. While restaurant experience is beneficial, the company says operational leadership, team-building skills and a hospitality mindset are more important.

"We're looking for people who know how to lead organizations and create exceptional guest experiences," Tachian said. "Restaurant experience is certainly valuable, but we've found that strong business operators who embrace our systems and culture can be very successful with the brand."

Franchisees also benefit from Keke's streamlined operating model. Restaurants are typically open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., allowing owners to operate a high-volume business within a single daytime shift while simplifying staffing and operations.

As Keke's expands into additional markets across the country, Knoxville represents another step toward the brand's long-term growth strategy of bringing its breakfast-and-lunch concept to high-potential communities.

"We're looking to partner with franchisees who want to become part of Knoxville's community for years to come," Tachian said. "Our goal isn't simply to open restaurants. It's to build neighborhood gathering places where families can enjoy great food, great service and a great experience every time they visit."

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise development (topic)
- Retail (sector)
- restaurant industry (topic)
- market growth (topic)
- Knoxville (location)
- Keke's Breakfast Cafe (company)
- Ardag Tachian (person)
- University of Tennessee (company)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/kekes-breakfast-cafe/kekes-breakfast-cafe-knoxville-franchise-growth-2732566). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/6a8a5f50-5468-409a-82a7-3f46e7c80734).