Three weeks after issuing a permit for Keke’s Breakfast Cafe to build-out in OakLeaf Town Center, the city did the same for Keke’s in East Arlington.
The city issued a permit Oct. 27 for Quantum Facilities Services LLC of Sarasota to convert the former Sugarfire Smokehouse for Keke’s at a project cost of $654,000.
The 4,875-square-foot space is at 12959 Atlantic Blvd., east of Girvin Road. It has a 650-square-foot patio.
Sugarfire Smokehouse closed in July 2022 after operating a year. The franchise owner cited supply chain shortages, staffing deficiencies and inflation.
Quantum Facilities Services also is the contractor for the 4,198-square-foot OakLeaf project at 9570 Crosshill Blvd., No. 106, in Southwest Jacksonville a cost of $800,000. The permit was issued Oct. 6.
Both had been restaurants for Panera Bread, which moved into stand-alone sites nearby.
Denny’s Inc. has owned Keke’s since July 2022.
Keke’s has three area restaurants that opened since 2017 at:
• The Strand at St. Johns Town Center at 4906 Town Center Parkway near St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville
• The Pavilion at Durbin Park at 450 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite E10, in Saint Johns.
• In St. Augustine at 135 Jenkins Street, Unit 106.
Orlando-based Keke’s has 57 locations in Florida, with two coming soon to Kissimmee and Odessa, according to kekes.com.
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe locations are open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. They are closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The online menu shows waffles, pancakes, omelets, other egg dishes and more on a breakfast menu served during all operating hours.
It shows the lunch menu starts at 10:30 a.m. and includes paninis, sandwiches, burgers, salads and more.