Brand Shoutouts
Founded 1997 by Chris Skodras in Pawleys Island, SC. 105+ locations as of 2025, 190+ committed deals. Full franchise economics, 25 primary sources, and the single-shift model that has delivered 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth.
By Justin K. Sellers · 19 min read · February 28, 2026
When you're scaling from 26 to 105 locations in seven years, most brands arguably prioritize territory sales over franchisee support.
Eggs Up Grill brought in Ricky Richardson — former President and COO of TGI Fridays who scaled 500+ restaurants — and spent three months documenting the brand DNA before changing anything.
Then they created a laminated 7x7-inch card that every employee carries.
In our view, they're not selling territories — they're preserving culture.
And it's working: 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth, 27% AUV increase since 2021, ranked #1 breakfast franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine four years running.
All while maintaining the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. single-shift model that started in 1997.
In our view, that's the kind of patience most brands don't have.
[FAQ_SECTION]
Chris Skodras didn't open Eggs Up Grill to build a franchise empire.
He opened it to stop working 16-hour days.
The Background:Skodras came from a restaurant family. His grandfather ran a diner. His father ran a diner. By age 6, Skodras was sweeping parking lots. By 15, he was working the grill.
He knew the business. And he knew what it cost.
After years in full-service restaurants pulling double shifts, Skodras and his wife Pat made one decision that would define the next 30 years:
6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Done. No dinner. No late nights.
That was 1997. One location in Pawleys Island, South Carolina — a barrier island beach town that most people visited once a year.
The Organic Growth Phase (1997-2018):For 21 years, Eggs Up Grill grew slowly.
Beachgoers would visit Pawleys Island, fall in love with the breakfast, and ask Skodras to open one in their hometown.
In 2008, he started franchising — first to his brother, then to friends, then to McDonald's franchisees who'd eaten at the original location.
But Skodras never actively recruited. No franchise sales team. No aggressive development pipeline. He'd "entertain people who were interested," but the brand grew entirely from word of mouth.
By 2018, Eggs Up Grill had 26 locations across three Southeastern states.
The WJ Partners Acquisition (2018):WJ Partners — a Spartanburg, South Carolina private equity firm — saw what Skodras had built: a founder-led brand with fanatical customer loyalty, proven unit economics, and zero national footprint.
They'd previously scaled Pure Barre from a boutique fitness concept into nearly 500 locations. They saw the same potential in Eggs Up Grill.
They acquired the brand in March 2018.
In July 2018, they hired Ricky Richardson as CEO.
Ricky Richardson's Background:- 20+ years at TGI Fridays - President and COO of TGI Fridays USA (overseeing 500+ restaurants) - 35+ years of multi-unit and franchise operations experience - Oversaw Pick Up Stix acquisition for Carlson Restaurant Group Worldwide
What Richardson Did First:He didn't touch the menu. He didn't redesign the stores. He didn't rush expansion.
He sat down with Skodras, the longest-tenured franchisees, and hourly employees for three months.
"We spent a couple of hundred man-hours over about a three-month period getting down on paper what I call the DNA or the soul of the brand, and what those points of differentiation are that have made it successful to this point in time." — Ricky Richardson, CEO
The result: A laminated 7x7-inch card that every employee carries — reminding them of the mission, the values, the non-negotiables.
In our analysis, that approach — documenting founder DNA before scaling — is what separates successful PE transitions from the ones that struggle with CEO turnover and cultural erosion.
What Richardson Changed:- Doubled the marketing team - Launched "Egg Yolk University" proprietary training platform (January 2024) - Introduced "Smile Society" loyalty program (Q2 2025) - Partnered with Apple Pie Capital as a Tier 1 Brand (making franchisee reinvestment easier) - Revamped kitchen design to improve throughput - Added mimosas to 90% of locations
What Richardson Didn't Change:The menu. The hours. The community focus. According to the company, the "neighbors serving neighbors" philosophy that Skodras built over 21 years.
The Results:- AUV increased 40% from 2019 to 2023 (from ~$900K to $1.3M system average) - Top 50% of locations: $1.5M+ AUV - Guest counts rose nearly 20% for top half of restaurants - 20 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth
Founder Continuity:Skodras and former president Skip Corn remain with the brand to provide guidance and support for franchisees.
Skodras still owns and operates the original Pawleys Island location.
That continuity matters. It's the same leadership stability that drives long-term operator success in our QSR culture and retention research.
Fresh eggs. Hand-cracked. Cooked 14 different ways — over easy, scrambled, poached, Benedict, in an omelet.
Hot-off-the-griddle pancakes. Belgian waffles. French toast. Texas toast buttered and grilled on the flattop.
The Founder's recipe corned beef hash — the same one Skodras learned from his grandfather.
Breakfast sandwiches and bowls: Egg Bomb BLT (new 2026), burritos, potato bowls.
Burgers and melts for lunch. Home fries. Grits. Bacon.
That's it.
No artisanal avocado toast. No acai bowls. No trendy pivots.
The Differentiator:The one addition Richardson made: mimosas.
Not because they drive revenue — they make up just 3% of sales. But because first responders and hospital workers finishing overnight shifts wanted a drink with breakfast.
"We get guests in our restaurants for a visit that we probably wouldn't see if we didn't offer those drinks. First responders or hospital folks that worked the overnight shift stop in for an after-work mimosa with their breakfast." — Ricky Richardson
90% of locations now serve alcohol.
The Operational Advantage:Focused menu = faster training, consistent execution, kitchens designed for volume.
Streamlined operations = less complexity for multi-unit operators.
You're not managing dozens of SKUs. You're managing eggs, pancakes, waffles, toast, and lunch basics.
It's a similar philosophy to what built Chick-fil-A into a $22.7 billion empire: do one thing well, don't chase trends, and let consistency compound over decades.
- 2018: 26 locations - 2022: 59 locations - 2025: 100+ locations - Early 2026: 105 locations
Current Footprint (2026):105 locations operating across:
- Primary markets: Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Texas - New market entries: Dallas-Fort Worth (April 2025), Pennsylvania (late 2025/early 2026)
2025 New Openings (18 total):Athens AL, Melbourne FL, McDonough GA, Indian Trail NC, Cleveland TN, Dallas GA, Cedar Park TX, Laurens SC, Seneca SC, Falls River NC, Evans GA, Germantown TN, Midlothian VA, Canton GA, Winter Garden FL, Austell GA, Summerville SC, Frisco TX
Expansion Strategy:Richardson's plan: Stay in the Southeast. Build to 400 units before looking elsewhere. Focus on multi-unit operators who already understand franchising.
What's Coming:"We could easily reach 400 units without becoming oversaturated." — Ricky Richardson
- 190+ locations in development or committed to open - 75% of those commitments are coming from existing franchisees
75% of the 2026 pipeline comes from existing franchisees — operators who already know the P&Ls.
Real Estate Flexibility:The 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. single-shift model allows flexibility in site selection:
- Locations can operate in smaller footprints (no dinner prep/storage needed) - Single shift reduces HVAC, utilities, labor complexity - Breakfast/lunch daypart works in strip centers, endcaps, freestanding
Compare that to the PE acquisition wave reshaping QSR — where firms are paying premium multiples for brands with exactly this kind of unit-level flexibility.
Franchise vs. Corporate Split Analysis:Eggs Up Grill operates as a predominantly franchise-driven system. WJ Partners — as the private equity owner of the brand — functions as the franchisor rather than an operator of corporate locations at scale. The 75% of pipeline growth coming from existing franchisees signals a system where operators are reinvesting — one of the strongest indicators of franchisee confidence available. In our view, the nearly all-franchise operating structure is appropriate for this brand's stage: WJ Partners brought the infrastructure and growth capital; the franchisees bring the local market execution. That division of responsibility has worked across the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida expansion to date. The question for operators evaluating western markets like Texas and Pennsylvania is whether the same franchisor support infrastructure that worked in the brand's home geography translates to markets where Eggs Up Grill has no existing brand awareness or community roots.
- Total investment: $821,600 - $1,141,000 - Franchise fee: $45,000 - Royalty: 5% of gross sales - Marketing fee: 2% of gross sales
Required Financials:- Net worth: $500,000 - Liquidity: $200,000
Reported Performance:- Top 50% of locations: $1.5M+ AUV - EBITDA: 17% - System average AUV: ~$1.3M (as of 2023) - Estimated payback period: 3.2–5.2 years (per QSR Research Hub analysis)
How It Stacks Up:[TABLE] Brand | Investment | AUV (2024-2025) | EBITDA Eggs Up Grill | $821K-$1.14M | $1.3M-$1.5M+ | 17% First Watch | $1.3M-$2.3M | $3.2M | ~12-15% (est.) Another Broken Egg | $1.1M-$1.8M | $2.5M (est.) | ~15% (est.) IHOP | $673K-$3.1M | $1.9M | ~10-12% (est.) [/TABLE]
The Trade-Off:- ✅ Lower investment than upscale breakfast concepts ($821K-$1.14M vs $1.3M-$2.3M for First Watch) - ✅ Strong EBITDA margins (17% vs industry average ~12-15%) - ✅ Single-shift model = simplified operations, better work-life balance - ✅ Proven growth trajectory (20 quarters consecutive same-store sales growth) - ✅ Franchisee confidence signal (75% of pipeline from existing operators) - ❌ Lower AUV than premium breakfast competitors ($1.3M-$1.5M vs $2.5M-$3.2M) - ❌ Longer payback period than some QSR concepts (3.2–5.2 years per QSR Research Hub analysis) - ❌ Limited to breakfast/lunch daypart (no dinner revenue opportunity)
Recognition:- #1 breakfast franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 (four consecutive years) - Most Profitable Franchise by Franchise Business Review - $136M+ estimated systemwide sales (QSR Research Hub calculation based on 105 locations × $1.3M average AUV)
On Product Quality:
"Wow! Great Breakfast! Erin is an asset! Veggie omelet, fresh fruit, Avocado! Eggs Benedict Hash! Everything cooked perfectly! Server Erin was fast courteous professional! Highly Recommend" — TripAdvisor, Canton, GA (2025)
"The scrambled eggs were prepared perfectly and the bacon had the perfect amount of crisp." — Yelp, Midlothian, VA (2025)
"Their eggs were perfectly cooked and I savored every drop of the yolk and hollandaise sauce." — Yelp, Midlothian, VA (2025)
"We finally tried this place for breakfast after at least 3 visits to North Myrtle Beach. After eating breakfast here, I am sorry we waited so long. We had their 3 doughnuts special (Boston cream - delicious). My wife had buttermilk pancakes - loved them. I had the grand classic — 3 eggs, grits, home fries, sausage, bacon, and toast for only $12.49 — so much food that I took 1/2 back to our condo for breakfast the next day. This definitely will become our go to breakfast spot." — TripAdvisor, North Myrtle Beach (2025)
On Service & Atmosphere:
"I love Eggs Benedict at Eggs Up Grill in Florence. But I splurged this last time and got 3 croissant donuts too! Staff very welcoming with a cozy atmosphere." — Yelp (2025+)
"One of my favorite spots in Anderson! You can't go wrong with anything on their menu for breakfast or lunch!" — Yelp (2025+)
On Consistency:
"I found the food to be very similar in each location...very reasonable in price. As a senior, I truly enjoy the meals there." — Yelp, Columbia, SC area
Average rating: 4.5 stars across more than 12,000 reviews annually.
Pattern: Customers consistently praise perfectly cooked eggs, crispy bacon, buttery Texas toast, generous portions, and friendly service. The fresh preparation and consistency across locations drive repeat visits. THE CHALLENGINGQuality Consistency Issues:
"I order Biscuit & Gravy, my son order Cinnamon French Toast and a Chocolate Milk that cost $4.29. My meal had very little gravy, and I mean very little I couldn't even splash a little on my eggs, and as I finished my biscuits they was dry as a bone, thank god for coffee because I needed something bad to wash down dry biscuits bits." — Yelp, Jan 30, 2026
"The scrambled eggs are just a giant flat egg folded up. Like poured on the grill and flipped like a pancake. Scrambled eggs do not taste good like that. They are supposed to be fluffy and scrambled." — Yelp (2025+)
"Please do not go to a specialty restaurant who specialize in eggs if you want your omelet soft cooked (not well done). Three times I have been there and I specify soft cooked omelet and it still comes out overcooked. Then since they screwed up twice, ordered soft poached eggs and they came out soaking in water." — TripAdvisor, Canton, GA
Operational Execution:
"I like this place! Came in on Oct 30th 2025 around 1pm...I had the steak and eggs with tomato, potatoes and dry toast, steak over medium, eggs over medium. Steak was good but a little heavy on the pepper, eggs were just a bit too runny and not quite as medium as I like...Only downside was the restaurant size and slow service." — TripAdvisor, Canton, GA (Oct 30, 2025)
"Horrible service. I waited 20 minutes past the time promised for an online order. Nice enough workers felt bad and apologized but management needs to plan better and give more accurate wait times! If you can't handle the volume, don't take the orders!" — Yelp (2025+)
Portion Size Concerns:
Pattern: Execution inconsistency. Some locations hit quality perfectly. Others miss on egg cooking temperatures, biscuit freshness, service speed, or portion control. When execution is on point — good manager, trained staff, proper cook times — customers rave. When execution slips — rushed service, undertrained staff, inconsistent cooking — customers notice immediately."Portions are shrinking while prices continue to rise. The 'grand slam' breakfast that used to leave me full now leaves me looking for a snack an hour later." — Yelp (2025+)
Thirty years of operation (1997-2027) before aggressive expansion. Twenty-one years under founder ownership before PE acquisition.
In our view, most brands rush to franchise — Eggs Up Grill waited until systems were proven, then brought in an operator with 35+ years of franchise experience to scale properly.
2. Didn't Break What WorksRichardson spent three months documenting the brand DNA before changing anything. The menu stayed the same. The hours stayed the same. The community focus stayed the same.
PE acquisitions can destroy founder culture — WJ Partners appears to have preserved it. This is what our research on PE transitions suggests: the best acquirers protect what works before scaling.
3. Single-Shift Economics That Scale6 a.m. to 2 p.m. means:
- No overlapping shifts - No late-night labor chaos - No competing with evening concepts
"The hours of operation are great. Opening eight hours a day really provides a better quality of life for myself and my team members." — Ken Bates, Multi-Unit TN Franchisee
For operators running pizza or fast-casual dinner brands, Eggs Up Grill fills the daypart gap without cannibalization. Perfect portfolio diversification.
4. Proven Unit EconomicsTop 50% of locations: $1.5M+ AUV at 17% EBITDA.
In our analysis, that 17% EBITDA is strong for breakfast — industry estimates suggest most breakfast concepts run 12-15%.
5. Franchisee Confidence Signal"I believe that breakfast — this type of concept — has extreme growth potential, especially in markets where we're going. With Eggs Up, the economic model is really sound." — Jackson Turner, Multi-Unit SC Franchisee
More than 60% of partners own multiple units.
75% of 2026 pipeline from existing franchisees.
When operators who know the P&Ls commit to opening more locations, the signal is worth noting.
6. Leadership With Scaling ExperienceRichardson spent 20+ years at TGI Fridays scaling 500+ restaurants. He knows how to grow brands without breaking them.
Results: AUV increased 40% from 2019 to 2023. Guest counts rose nearly 20% for top half of restaurants.
7. Corporate Support That Shows UpWhat They Need To Nail As They Scale: 1. Quality Consistency"It's been helpful to know that the leadership team is only a phone call away. These guys are always on top of any questions I have. It goes a long way in showing what the franchisor is all about, and that the leadership team is in it with us." — Dean Patel, Multi-Unit SC Franchisee
Customer reviews show execution variance — dry biscuits, overcooked omelets, flat scrambled eggs, slow service.
When your entire brand promise is "breakfast classics done exceptionally well," quality control isn't optional.
The real test: Can they maintain standards as they scale from 105 to 295+ units?
2. Training Infrastructure at Scale"Egg Yolk University" launched January 2024. That's recent.
As they add 190+ locations over the next few years, can they maintain training quality and franchisee onboarding?
3. Supply Chain ConsistencyExpanding into Dallas-Fort Worth, Pennsylvania, and other new markets means different distributors, different logistics, potentially different ingredient sources.
Can they maintain the same egg quality, bacon crispness, and toast consistency across regions?
4. Managing Existing Franchisee Expectations75% of pipeline from existing franchisees is positive — but it also means those operators are betting heavily on continued support quality.
If support quality slips as they scale, those same multi-unit operators will be the first to notice and the loudest to complain.
Chris Skodras founded Eggs Up Grill in Pawleys Island, South Carolina in 1997. He spent 21 years building the brand from a single location to 26 restaurants before WJ Partners acquired the company in March 2018. His philosophy — quality ingredients, fresh preparation, community-centric hospitality — remained intact through the acquisition and continues to define the brand's identity in its Southeast stronghold markets.
Current Leadership:Ricky Richardson joined as CEO in July 2018 following WJ Partners' acquisition. Richardson's background is notable for its operational scale: he served as President and COO of TGI Fridays U.S., overseeing a system with hundreds of locations across dozens of states. WJ Partners specifically cited Richardson's scaling expertise as the rationale for the hire — they weren't bringing in a visionary to reinvent the concept, but an operator who knew how to manage multi-unit franchise systems without breaking what works.
"We're excited to welcome Ricky to the Eggs Up Grill team. His extensive experience in managing the rapid growth of TGI Fridays, combined with his deep understanding of the restaurant franchise model, make him the ideal person to help us realize the incredible potential that Eggs Up Grill has as a national brand." — WJ Partners management team, 2018
Richardson spent his first three months documenting the brand DNA before implementing changes — an approach that preserved the founder culture that made the brand worth acquiring in the first place.
WJ Partners' Role:WJ Partners — a Spartanburg, South Carolina PE firm — operates as a patient capital partner rather than a rapid-exit vehicle. Their track record of acquiring founder-led service brands and scaling them through professional management without destroying the original culture suggests a longer-term orientation than some PE owners. The 75% of pipeline growth coming from existing franchisees is the best evidence of this: operators who know the system from the inside are betting on it with additional capital.
Leadership Assessment:In our view, Eggs Up Grill's leadership combination — founder culture preserved under Richardson's operational discipline, with WJ Partners providing the capital infrastructure for scale — is structurally sound for what the brand is trying to do. The risk isn't the leadership quality. The risk is execution velocity: 105 operating locations expanding toward 295+ creates support infrastructure strain regardless of who's leading the organization. Operators evaluating the brand should specifically ask Richardson's team what happens to training quality, supply chain management, and franchisee support when the system doubles from 105 to 210 locations. That's the transition that tests every franchise concept.
- 2+ years QSR experience (understand kitchen ops, labor management, cost controls) - Market with breakfast/brunch demand (demographics support $12-15 average check) - Comfortable with $1.3M-$1.5M AUV expectations (not expecting $3M+ performance) - Value operational simplicity (focused menu, single-shift model) - Want work-life balance (8-hour shift vs 16-hour days) - Appreciate franchise support infrastructure (CEO personally involved in franchisee vetting) - Believe in community integration ("home for the neighborhood" positioning matters to you)
Red Flags:- First-time restaurant operator (execution consistency requires experience) - Expecting $3M+ AUV like First Watch (Eggs Up Grill is $1.3M-$1.5M range) - Need passive income model (reviews show execution demands active management) - Want dinner revenue (6 a.m. to 2 p.m. model limits to breakfast/lunch only) - Can't commit to daily presence (single-shift means owner/GM must be there)
You're getting:
- Proven 30-year track record (founded 1997) - Lower investment than upscale breakfast concepts ($821K-$1.14M vs $1.3M-$2.3M) - Strong EBITDA margins (17%) - Leadership team with actual scaling experience - Single-shift economics (perfect portfolio complement to dinner concepts) - More than 60% of partners are multi-unit (you're joining an experienced cohort)
You're accepting:
- Lower AUV than competitors ($1.3M-$1.5M vs $2.5M-$3.2M) - Quality consistency challenges showing in reviews - Rapid expansion risks (105 to 295+ units in development) - Longer payback period (3.2–5.2 years per QSR Research Hub analysis) - Limited to breakfast/lunch daypart (no dinner revenue)
If You're a First-Time Franchisee:In our view, not recommended for first-time franchisees.
Quality execution inconsistency in reviews shows this concept requires skilled management. Simple menu doesn't mean easy execution.
If You're Converting From Another Brand:Your QSR experience transfers (kitchen ops, labor management, cost controls).
But consider:
- Breakfast/lunch economics different from dinner concepts (different customer expectations, different labor pools, different throughput patterns) - Single-shift model is simpler operationally but limits revenue ceiling - Community integration focus requires relationship-building (not just transaction efficiency)
Conversion may make sense if:
- Market has breakfast/brunch demand (verify demographics support $12-15 average check) - Comfortable with $1.3M-$1.5M AUV (verify against your current performance) - Value work-life balance over maximum revenue potential - Want to complement existing dinner concept (portfolio diversification play)
In a market where PE acquisitions often strip founder culture and prioritize unit count over unit economics, Eggs Up Grill stands apart.
The Opportunity:- First-mover advantage in single-shift breakfast: Only a handful of breakfast-only concepts scaling nationally with true single-shift model - Portfolio diversification play: Fills daypart gap for evening concept operators without cannibalization - Proven unit economics: $1.5M+ AUV for top 50% at 17% EBITDA - Cult brand with 30-year history: Not a flash-in-the-pan concept - Rapid expansion trajectory: 190+ committed units shows franchisor commitment - Experienced leadership: Richardson's TGI Fridays background brings scaling expertise without destroying founder culture - Franchisee confidence: 75% of pipeline from existing operators
The Trade-Off:- Lower AUV than premium breakfast competitors ($1.3M-$1.5M vs $2.5M-$3.2M) - Quality consistency challenges at some locations - Rapid expansion risks (105 to 295+ units in development) - Single-shift model limits revenue ceiling (no dinner daypart opportunity) - Longer payback period than some QSR concepts (3.2–5.2 years)
Eggs Up Grill's success in the Southeast is not an accident — it's the product of 30 years of brand building in communities where the concept was embedded before it was franchised. The Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida expansion that followed the WJ Partners acquisition worked because the brand had existing loyalty to draw from. The question that every operator outside those core markets needs to answer honestly is whether that loyalty is transferable or whether it was a regional phenomenon specific to Eggs Up's founding geography.
The unit economics signal genuine confidence among operators who know the brand best. 75% of the 2026 pipeline coming from existing franchisees is not a marketing statistic — it's operators who've seen the P&Ls, lived through the supply chain realities, and experienced the franchisor support system deciding to bet more capital on it. That's the strongest signal available in a franchise evaluation.
What it doesn't answer: whether the brand travels to Dallas, Pittsburgh, Denver, or Minneapolis with the same results it produced in Myrtle Beach and Charlotte. Those are different markets with different consumer expectations, different competitive landscapes, and different relationship dynamics with a brand that nobody there has heard of yet.
In our view, Eggs Up Grill is a serious franchise candidate for the right operator in the right market — particularly operators already running breakfast or brunch concepts who understand the daypart dynamics, or multi-unit operators looking for a portfolio concept that fills the daypart gap without competing with their existing dinner-focused brands. The work-life quality argument is real, the unit economics are documented, and the leadership team has earned the trust of its existing franchisee base. Do the market-specific analysis before committing to an expansion market — and visit operating locations in both established markets and new geographies before signing anything.
Interested in bringing Eggs Up Grill to your market?
Visit their franchise page for territory availability and FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document). Specifically request Item 19 (Financial Performance Representations) to verify AUV expectations and EBITDA benchmarks for top-performing locations.
Visit Franchise PageEvery Brand Shoutout is built on independently sourced information:
- Financial Data: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), Franchise Business Review rankings, Entrepreneur Franchise 500 data, industry analyst reports - Customer Reviews: Verified reviews from Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, aggregated across 2024-2026 (prioritizing newest locations) - Leadership Information: Company websites, QSR Magazine interviews, Restaurant Dive profiles, PR Newswire releases, industry publications - Growth Metrics: IFA reporting, official press releases, franchise disclosure filings - Operator Perspectives: Published franchisee interviews, franchise website testimonials, multi-unit operator data
We never ask brands for permission before publishing. Our job is independent analysis, not marketing material. If something in this piece doesn't match your experience — good or bad — that's valuable information for the operator community.
Sponsors get placement, not editorial control. We write what the research shows.
This analysis draws on 25 public sources including franchise documents, customer reviews, industry reports, and corporate announcements.
Several questions remain unanswered:
We don't know Eggs Up Grill's net franchisee profitability after all costs.AUV data shows top-line revenue. Actual operator take-home after rent, labor, food costs, royalties, and marketing contributions isn't publicly disclosed.
We don't know how the WJ Partners acquisition has affected day-to-day franchise operations.PE acquisitions often bring operational changes. Whether current franchisee experience reflects pre- or post-acquisition conditions is unclear.
We don't know Eggs Up Grill's franchisee satisfaction scores or renewal rates.No public franchisee satisfaction survey data is available. Customer reviews provide signal on brand health, but franchisee experience may differ.
We don't know whether the breakfast-only/no-dinner model creates a revenue ceiling that limits franchisee returns.The compressed operating window (6 AM - 2 PM) reduces labor costs but also caps daily revenue potential. Whether the trade-off favors operators long-term is undisclosed.
We don't know how recent menu expansions (bowls, new proteins) have affected ticket averages and kitchen complexity.Menu evolution data and its operational impact aren't publicly available.
This deep dive was produced independently. The brand profiled did not participate in, review, or approve this research prior to publication. All financial claims, unit economics, and operational assessments are sourced from publicly available materials and cited accordingly.
QSR Research Hub is an independent publication. We receive no compensation from any brand featured in our Brand Shoutouts.
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1. American Recruiters. "2022's Breakout Brand of the Year: Eggs Up Grill Takes Flight." January 15, 2023. DNA sessions, Richardson approach. https://www.americanrecruiters.com/2023/01/15/2022s-breakout-brand-of-the-year-eggs-up-grill-takes-flight/
2. Eggs Up Grill Corporate. "Eggs Up Grill CEO Emphasizes Profitability During March to 100." November 6, 2024. Laminated card, mimosas 3%, doubled marketing, Egg Yolk University, AUV growth 40%. https://eggsupgrill.com/eggs-up-grill-ceo-emphasizes-profitability-during-march-to-100/
3. PR Newswire / IFA. "Eggs Up Grill Served Up Scale in 2025 with 18 New Restaurant Openings." January 6, 2026. 105 locations, 190+ development, 20 quarters growth, #1 franchise 4 years, 75% pipeline from existing. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eggs-up-grill-served-up-scale-in-2025-with-18-new-restaurant-openings-and-20-consecutive-quarters-of-positive-same-store-sales-302653570.html
4. Eggs Up Grill Franchise Website. "Join the #1 Best Breakfast Franchise." Multi-unit franchisee quotes, $1.5M+ AUV top 50%, 17% EBITDA, net worth/liquidity requirements. https://eggsupgrillfranchise.com/
5. Experience Columbia SC. Local tourism listing confirming Eggs Up Grill founding in Pawleys Island, SC in 1997 by Chris Skodras. See also Source 7 (PR Newswire) and Source 9 (Restaurant Dive) for primary source confirmation. https://www.experiencecolumbiasc.com/listing/eggs-up-grill/18939/
6. HIS Radio. "Eggs Up Grill - Greer SC." Chris Skodras family restaurant background, third-generation, age 6 sweeping, age 15 grill. https://www.hisradio.com/directory/partners/eggs-up-grill/
7. PR Newswire. "Eggs Up Grill Names Former TGI Fridays U.S. President/COO Ricky Richardson as CEO." July 2, 2018. Richardson background, WJ Partners, Pure Barre scaling, Skodras/Corn continuity. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eyeing-growth-eggs-up-grill-names-former-tgi-fridays-us-presidentcoo-ricky-richardson-as-ceo-300675151.html
8. American Recruiters. "2022's Breakout Brand of the Year: Eggs Up Grill Takes Flight." January 15, 2023. DNA sessions 200+ man-hours, 400-unit Southeast potential, McDonald's franchisees, word of mouth growth. https://www.americanrecruiters.com/2023/01/15/2022s-breakout-brand-of-the-year-eggs-up-grill-takes-flight/
9. Restaurant Dive. "Franchise spotlight: Eggs Up Grill leans into hot breakfast segment." December 12, 2022. 26 locations when WJ Partners acquired March 2018. https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/franchise-spotlight-eggs-up-grill-targets-200-units/638446/
10. RestaurantNews.com. "Eggs Up Grill Nears 100th Location." July 24, 2025. Smile Society loyalty program launch Q2 2025. https://www.restaurantnews.com/eggs-up-grill-nears-100th-location-with-11-openings-new-loyalty-program-and-franchise-growth-leadership-in-2025-072425/
11. Yelp Cedar Park, TX. "Eggs Up Grill." Menu details, 14 ways to cook eggs, Founder's recipe corned beef hash, 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. hours. May 25, 2025. https://www.yelp.com/biz/eggs-up-grill-cedar-park-3
12. TripAdvisor Winter Garden, FL. "Eggs Up Grill." Pricing: Eggs Benedict $13.49, Brand Classic $12.99, Southern Staples $11.99, The Classic $10.49, coffee $3.49, juice $4.49. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34745-d23535468-Reviews-Eggs_Up_Grill-Winter_Garden_Florida.html
13. RestaurantNews.com. "Eggs Up Grill Nears 100th Location." July 24, 2025. Q2 2025 openings by city/state. https://www.restaurantnews.com/eggs-up-grill-nears-100th-location-with-11-openings-new-loyalty-program-and-franchise-growth-leadership-in-2025-072425/
14. The Franchise King. "Eggs Up Grill Franchise Cracks The Dallas-Fort Worth Market." April 7, 2025. DFW expansion announcement. https://www.thefranchiseking.com/eggs-up-grill-franchise-dallas-fort-worth
15. IFA. "Eggs Up Grill Builds on Momentum with New Deals and Openings in Q1." May 22, 2025. Pennsylvania first-time entry late 2025/early 2026. https://www.franchise.org/2025/05/eggs-up-grill-builds-on-momentum-with-new-deals-and-openings-in-q1/
16. QSR Research Hub analysis. Estimated franchise payback period (3.2–5.2 years) using investment range $821,600–$1,141,000 (FDD Item 7 per Source 4) and 17% EBITDA on AUV (Source 4: top-50% locations $1.3M–$1.5M+). Net profit: $221,000–$255,000. Note: 17% EBITDA per Eggs Up Grill franchise materials; actual payback depends on operator performance, market, and real estate type. QSR industry average EBITDA: 6–9%; 17% reflects top-50% performer benchmark.
17. Franchise Times. "First Watch." Franchise Times brand coverage including Top 400 ranking and investment data. https://www.franchisetimes.com/first-watch/article_d0bc86bc-24f8-5888-afba-a0eeb8e83bf2.html
18. Restaurant Business. "First Watch revenue surges past pre-pandemic level." 2024 AUV performance. https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/first-watch-revenue-surges-past-pre-pandemic-level
19. Another Broken Egg Cafe. "Franchise Investment Overview." Official franchise development site. Investment range ($1.1M–$1.8M) per franchise development materials; unverified without direct FDD access. https://www.anotherbrokenegg.com/franchising/
20. IHOP Franchise. "IHOP Franchise Costs & Fees (2025)." Investment range $673K-$3.1M. https://www.ihopfranchise.com/
21. QSR Magazine. "The QSR 50 Ranking 2024." August 2024. IHOP AUV and systemwide performance data. https://www.qsrmagazine.com/content/qsr50-2024-top-50-chart
22. TripAdvisor Canton, GA. "Eggs Up Grill." Customer reviews including Oct 30, 2025 visit, overcooked omelet complaints. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34817-d23023805-Reviews-Eggs_Up_Grill-Canton_Georgia.html
23. Yelp Midlothian, VA. "Eggs Up Grill." Egg cooking quality reviews July 2025. https://www.yelp.com/biz/eggs-up-grill-midlothian
24. TripAdvisor North Myrtle Beach. "Eggs Up Grill." Grand classic review, value pricing. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g54371-d9853550-Reviews-Eggs_Up_Grill-North_Myrtle_Beach_South_Carolina.html
25. Yelp. "Eggs Up Grill Reviews - Multiple Locations." Customer reviews 2025-2026 (biscuits, scrambled eggs, service). https://www.yelp.com/brands/eggs-up-grill