The casual dining chain Denny’s has purchased Orlando-based Keke’s Breakfast Cafe for $82.5 million.
The acquisition was announced on Tuesday in a press release from Denny’s that included the restaurant’s first quarter earnings.
Keke’s, which specializes in handmade breakfast and lunch entrees, opened its first location in 2006. The restaurant currently has 52 locations, including 8 that are company-owned and 44 that are franchised.
Shady Oaks Shopping Center is home to the restaurant’s sole Ocala location at 2427 SW 27th Avenue. The restaurant is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The transaction is expected to be finalized during the fiscal second quarter of 2022. Keke’s will continue to operate independently from Denny’s with its own leadership, strategies, products, marketing, operations, and development initiatives, according to Tuesday’s press release.
Denny’s has over 1,600 franchised, licensed, and company restaurants that are located around the world.
John Miller, Denny’s Chief Executive Officer, believes that Keke’s will complement Denny’s brand while helping to drive incremental growth.
“Keke’s is a high-growth brand that aligns well with our core competency while providing us with an opportunity to participate in the fast-growing A.M. eatery segment. We intend to utilize the proven capabilities of our franchise-focused business model to develop Keke’s across multiple states with the long-term target of becoming the A.M. eatery franchisor of choice,” said Miller.