The iconic Atlanta-born breakfast and brunch institution, The Flying Biscuit Café, is officially expanding its footprint into Henry County after signing a new lease for a restaurant in McDonough, Georgia. Located at 982 Jonesboro Road, Suite 208, the forthcoming establishment represents a major step forward for the brand’s regional growth strategy. Franchisees Keisha Carter and Eric Gladmon are spearheading the project, opting for a ground-up development strategy in a booming commercial and residential corridor. While construction and buildout phases are currently underway, corporate leadership and the franchise team are eyeing an official opening during the fourth quarter of 2027. Once operational, the McDonough location will bring the brand’s signature Southern-inspired comfort food, community-centric dining atmosphere, and full-service catering capabilities to a rapidly expanding populace south of Atlanta.
The Decision to Build Ground-Up in a High-Growth Corridor
When entering a new market, restaurant franchise operators typically evaluate existing second-generation restaurant spaces to minimize initial capital expenditure and shorten the timeline to opening day. However, for Keisha Carter and Eric Gladmon, the available second-generation inventory in the McDonough area failed to meet the operational and aesthetic standards required for The Flying Biscuit Café. Rather than compromising on location, layout, or infrastructure, the entrepreneurial duo elected to develop a brand-new space from the ground up along a high-traffic stretch of Jonesboro Road.
This specific corridor has experienced exponential growth over recent years, characterized by a wave of new multi-family apartment complexes, retail centers, and nationally recognized commercial neighbors such as Starbucks and City Barbeque. Real estate representation for the transaction was secured by Sam Zelony of The Windsor Realty Group, who advocated on behalf of the franchisees, while Daniel Hunt of D&G Development Group represented the property interests.
By planting roots in a developing pocket of Henry County, Carter and Gladmon are positioning their franchise to capture both commuter traffic and the steady influx of new families relocating to the area. The strategic placement aligns with broader real estate trends in suburban Atlanta markets, where developers are prioritizing walkable, mixed-use proximity and modern retail hubs over older, congested commercial strips.
Community Integration and Neighborhood Vision
Beyond commercial metrics and foot-traffic projections, the franchisees emphasize a deeply personal vision for the McDonough café. For Carter, the objective extends far beyond serving morning meals; the goal is to weave the restaurant into the social fabric of Henry County.
"We looked at second-generation spaces first, and there wasn’t much worth having, so we decided to build from the ground up in a part of the county that’s still growing," Carter explained regarding the site selection process. "Henry County keeps welcoming new families and still feels like a place where people know each other. We want this to be where a family has breakfast on a Saturday, and where the school down the road calls when they need to feed a room full of people."
This community-first philosophy mirrors the foundational ethos of The Flying Biscuit Café brand since its inception. By establishing local partnerships, catering to nearby educational institutions, and serving as a weekend gathering spot, the McDonough franchise aims to replicate the neighborhood-anchor model that has sustained the chain’s popularity across multiple state lines for decades.
A Broader Wave of Regional and National Expansion
The McDonough lease agreement does not exist in a vacuum; rather, it represents a continuation of an aggressive, multi-state expansion campaign by The Flying Biscuit Café. Over the past several cycles, the franchisor has secured prime real estate and executed lease signings across a diverse geographical footprint, including locations in metropolitan Atlanta, Raleigh, North Carolina, Orlando, Florida, Knoxville, Tennessee, Abilene, Texas, and the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri.
This steady cadence of development underscores the enduring appeal of the daytime-dining restaurant segment. Unlike traditional full-service dinner concepts, daytime dining brands have capitalized on shifting consumer preferences, post-pandemic labor dynamics, and a strong demand for high-quality breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings. By focusing operations primarily on daytime hours—typically closing in the mid-afternoon—brands like The Flying Biscuit Café often attract a robust talent pool of front- and back-of-house employees seeking predictable schedules, which remains a distinct competitive advantage in the contemporary hospitality landscape.
Culinary Offerings and Catering Operations
When the doors officially open in late 2027, guests at the McDonough location will be greeted by the brand’s well-established, comforting menu, which spans breakfast, brunch, and midday dining. Staple menu items that have garnered a cult-like following across the Southeast will anchor the culinary program, including signature dishes such as creamy, southern-style shrimp and grits, fluffy organic oatmeal-pancakes, and famous made-from-scratch southern biscuits served alongside cranberry apple butter.
In addition to traditional dine-in service, the café is engineered to capture a significant share of the corporate and institutional catering market throughout Henry County. The menu features versatile crowd-pleasers ranging from stuffed French toast and gourmet omelets to health-conscious vegan scrambles, classic burgers, and artisanal wraps. By offering full-service catering tailored for local schools, medical offices, corporate boardrooms, and private weekend events, the franchise diversifies its revenue streams beyond traditional table turnover.
Economic Implications for Henry County
The arrival of a recognized regional brand like The Flying Biscuit Café carries meaningful economic implications for McDonough and the broader Henry County municipality. Ground-up commercial construction projects stimulate local economic activity by generating short-term employment for architectural, engineering, and contracting labor forces. Once the buildout is finalized, the permanent operation of the restaurant will create numerous job opportunities spanning management, culinary preparation, customer service, and delivery logistics.
Furthermore, the addition of a high-profile dining destination enhances the commercial appeal of the Jonesboro Road corridor, potentially encouraging complementary retail and service providers to invest in the immediate vicinity. As suburban centers continue to absorb population shifts from major metropolitan cores, investments in quality-of-life infrastructure—such as diverse dining options and community gathering spaces—play a critical role in local municipal development and tax base enhancement.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Opening Day
With the lease officially secured and real estate negotiations concluded, the timeline shifts toward architectural planning, permitting, and physical construction. While the targeted fourth-quarter 2027 opening date provides a broad horizon, the complex nature of ground-up commercial real estate development necessitates careful coordination between franchisees, developers, and local municipal authorities.
As buildout progresses, Carter, Gladmon, and corporate representatives are expected to announce specific milestones, including exact opening dates, pre-opening hiring events, and community preview initiatives. For residents of Henry County and the broader McDonough area, the upcoming arrival of The Flying Biscuit Café promises a fresh, locally invested dining option designed to cater to both the palate and the community spirit of a rapidly growing region.
