Eggs Up Grill announced it has reached a benchmark with the opening of its 100th restaurant.
Specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch, Eggs Up Grill opened its latest location in Kingsport, Tennessee. The restaurant is owned and operated by Ken Bates and his son, Ethan. This marks the third Eggs Up Grill for the Bates family and joins locations in Tennessee and Virginia.
Bates is a Kingsport native and 36-year restaurant veteran who previously owned multiple Little Caesars locations before joining the Eggs Up Grill brand. The franchise noted that additional growth is expected from Bates with three more Eggs Up Grill locations planned for the Tri-Cities region, which consists of Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol.
“This is more than just another opening. Kingsport is home to Eggs Up Grill’s 100th restaurant, and we’re incredibly proud to bring that milestone to East Tennessee,” Bates said. “This brand has given our family the opportunity to build something lasting together, and we look forward to serving this community with great food and friendly hospitality.”
To celebrate the milestone, Eggs Up Grill Kingsport is hosting a week of grand opening specials and giveaways beginning Sept. 29. Each day will feature a different promotion, from $8 classics and free coffee to $5 mimosas, capped off by a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Kingsport Chamber on Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. Media, influencers and community leaders are invited to attend the Oct. 2 event, which will also feature complimentary menu sampling and coffee tastings from Eggs Up Grill.
The Kingsport restaurant is also be the first franchise to employ a fresh Eggs Up Grill logo along with a next‑generation prototype design. The new design features enhanced seating, an improved layout and a kitchen platform built to increase efficiency and elevate the guest experience.
“Opening in Kingsport is a proud moment for our brand and for the Bates family,” said Ricky Richardson, CEO of Eggs Up Grill. “Ken and his team exemplify the kind of franchise partners who make this concept so special. Their passion for people and commitment to quality make them the perfect team to launch our 100th location.”
Other recent openings from the brand include Clarksville, South Carolina and Evans, Georgia. For the first quarter of 2025, Eggs Up Grill announced three new franchise agreements along with commitments to open six new locations and in the second quarter announced reported four new franchise agreements with commitments for four new locations.
Eggs Up Grill was founded in Pawleys Island, South Carolina and features the slogan of “neighbors serving neighbors.” Along with 100 locations currently in operation, the brand said another 85 units are under development or committed to open.
For more information about franchise opportunities with Eggs Up Grill, visit eggsupgrillfranchise.com.
