Keke’s in permitting for River City Marketplace

The North Jacksonville restaurant will be the breakfast cafe’s seventh in Northeast Florida.

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is planned in River City Marketplace near Supercuts.
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is planned in River City Marketplace near Supercuts.
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Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is in permitting for its seventh Northeast Florida restaurant, this one in River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville.

The city is reviewing a permit application for Regional Construction Services LC of Pompano Beach to renovate 4,925 square feet at 840 Nautica Drive at an estimated project cost of $245,000.

The permit shows that Units 115-117 will be combined for Keke’s. While the landlord’s site plan does not include those numbered spaces, it does show Keke’s in Units 66-67, previously occupied by Mr. Potato Spread and Mattress One.

AM Eatery River City LLC, led by John C. Metz of West Palm Beach, is the franchise owner. Metz is founder of RREMC Restaurants, which comprises a restaurant, hotel and real estate group that includes Keke’s.

The site brochure by landlord Kimco Realty and landlord leasing representative Franklin Street shows Keke’s in the 4,844-square-foot Unit 66.
The site brochure by landlord Kimco Realty and landlord leasing representative Franklin Street shows Keke’s in the 4,844-square-foot Unit 66.

The plan by landlord Kimco Realty and landlord leasing representative Franklin Street shows Keke’s in 4,844 square feet between T-Mobile and Supercuts. Thomas Duke Architect of Jacksonville is the architect. It’s not uncommon for build-out and site-plan sizes to differ minimally.

The cafe is in a strip of buildings near Starbucks Coffee Co. and across the parking lot from Ashley furniture and the Total Wine & More that took the former OfficeMax location.

River City Marketplace is at 13000 City Station Drive, along Airport Center Drive, east of Interstate 95. Jacksonville International Airport is west of I-95.

The new location appears to be the seventh Keke’s in Northeast Florida.

Keke’s has six Northeast Florida restaurants that have opened since 2017 at:

  • East Arlington at 12959 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville.
  • 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 St., Unit 106.
  • Oakleaf Town Center at 9570 Crosshill Blvd., No. 106, at southeast Crosshill Boulevard and Merchants Gate Drive west of Old Middleburg Road South, in Jacksonville.
  • Claire Lane Center at 11112 San Jose Blvd., No. 23, in Mandarin, south of Interstate 295. 
A sign is in the window at 840 Nautica Drive, No. 117, for Keke’s Breakfast Cafe. The space previously was Mr. Potato Spread.
A sign is in the window at 840 Nautica Drive, No. 117, for Keke’s Breakfast Cafe. The space previously was Mr. Potato Spread.
Photo by Monty Zickuhr

Stephanie McCullough, senior vice president and managing principal of SRS Real Estate Partners, represents Keke’s in its site searches.

Denny’s Inc. has owned Keke’s since July 2022.

Orlando-based Keke’s has 63 locations in Florida, with one coming soon in Hollywood, according to kekes.com. The River City Marketplace unit is not shown.

The chain also has 20 locations in six other states, with four more restaurants coming soon.

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, egg dishes and other items on a breakfast menu served during all operating hours. The lunch menu includes paninis, sandwiches, burgers, salads and more.


 

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