The first Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is scheduled to open in Spartanburg’s Hillcrest Shopping Center, before expanding across the Upstate. Photo provided by Keke’s Breakfast Cafe.
A well-known breakfast and brunch concept is set to make its way to the Upstate, with plans for multiple locations across Spartanburg and surrounding communities. Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, a daytime-only restaurant known for its made-to-order meals and welcoming atmosphere, will open its first Upstate location in Spartanburg as part of a five-unit development agreement led by longtime local restauranteurs Jeff and Kim Rigsby.
For the Rigsbys, the decision to bring Keke’s to the region was both professional and personal. Before becoming franchise operators, they were loyal customers.
“Keke’s was a family favorite of ours before we even considered owning one,” Jeff Rigsby said. “My kids recommended it to me & my wife about eight or nine years ago while we were in Orlando, and we loved it instantly. As a customer, the food was great and the service was even better. Every person working there was consistent and kept the environment so welcoming.”
After more than 30 years in the restaurant industry—including helping grow and operate more than 140 Bojangles locations—the Rigsbys were ready for a new chapter. Keke’s, Jeff said, stood out immediately.
“After 30 years with Bojangles, I was looking for another opportunity, and Keke’s checked every box,” he said. “I also really liked the daytime-only operating model.”
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe has built a strong reputation across several states, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee, for its commitment to fresh ingredients and classic breakfast and lunch dishes prepared to order. The menu features award-winning pancakes, golden waffles, three-egg omelets, French toast, and fresh fruit, along with lunch options such as paninis, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and salads. Vegetarian and gluten-friendly options are available, and meals are served in a casual, family-friendly setting.
One of the brand’s defining principles is what guests won’t find in the kitchen: microwaves. Instead, Keke’s emphasizes hand-cracked eggs, fresh-cut fruit, real butter, whipped cream, and in-house ground coffee, with a focus on consistency and presentation.
“I think first-time guests will notice that Keke’s doesn’t try to reinvent a classic,” Jeff Rigsby said. “Breakfast favorites like pancakes, waffles, and omelets are our top menu items, and by using quality ingredients and beautiful presentations, we just elevate what we know guests already love.”
Beyond the food, he said, service is a major part of the experience.
“We hope they notice the high quality of service we strive to provide and our efforts to keep guests feeling welcomed into our warm atmosphere,” he said.
The Upstate was a natural choice for expansion, the Rigsbys said, particularly given their long-standing ties to the area.
“We’ve lived in the area since 1988 and have watched Greenville and Spartanburg grow into such vibrant communities that draw people in from all over the country,” Jeff Rigsby said. “There’s definitely a demand for high-quality breakfast and brunch options, and Keke’s offers exactly that.”
Their familiarity with the region, paired with years of experience building successful restaurant brands locally, made the timing feel right.
“We’ve had a lot of success building brands in this region and felt like it was the perfect time to bring an elevated daytime dining concept to our hometown,” he said.
The first Keke’s Breakfast Cafe in the Upstate is scheduled to open by June 2026. The initial location will be a 4,500-square-foot restaurant in Spartanburg’s Hillcrest Shopping Center, located next to J.Crew Factory. Additional locations are planned over the next several years, with the goal of having all five operational within three years.
Communities under consideration include Greer, Simpsonville, Easley, Boiling Springs, and Clemson.
As the Rigsbys look ahead, Jeff said this new venture represents more than expansion—it’s an opportunity to reshape how they operate after decades in the business.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with my sons and focusing on a brand that prioritizes quality of both life and food,” he said. “The 2:30 p.m. closing time is a major advantage for us because it helps us retain management and talent looking for that schedule.”
For Jeff Rigsby, the move also brings his career full circle.
“I’ve spent my career rising from a crew member as a teenager to owning over 140 restaurants, and it’s exciting to apply those years of experience to a brand-new business venture,” he said.
With its emphasis on fresh food, classic flavors, and a welcoming environment, Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is poised to become a new daytime dining destination for Upstate residents—one rooted in both national success and local leadership.
The new restaurant will be located in the Hillcrest Marketplace on East Main Street in Spartanburg. For more information about Keke’s Breakfast Cafe and its menu, visit kekes.com.
