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The Flying Biscuit Café, the iconic Atlanta-born brand celebrated for its southern-inspired breakfast and brunch offerings, has officially finalized a lease agreement for a new location at 982 Jonesboro Road, Suite 208, in McDonough, Georgia. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the franchise as it enters the Henry County market, a region experiencing a sustained period of residential and commercial revitalization. The new café is slated for a grand opening in the fourth quarter of 2027, with a specific date to be determined as the construction and interior buildout phases progress over the coming years.
This specific development is spearheaded by franchisees Keisha Carter and Eric Gladmon, who have committed to a "ground-up" construction project rather than retrofitting an existing building. The decision to build a custom space reflects a strategic move to capitalize on the specific infrastructure needs of a high-volume breakfast establishment while securing a prime position within one of McDonough’s most active commercial corridors. The site on Jonesboro Road is positioned amidst a flurry of recent developments, including the arrival of national brands such as Starbucks and City Barbeque, as well as several high-density apartment complexes currently under construction or recently completed.
Strategic Selection of the McDonough Market
The choice of McDonough as the next destination for The Flying Biscuit Café was driven by a combination of favorable demographic shifts and the personal vision of the franchisees. Henry County has consistently ranked as one of the fastest-growing counties in the state of Georgia and the broader Atlanta metropolitan area. According to recent census data and regional planning reports, the county has seen a significant influx of young families and professionals seeking a balance between suburban amenities and proximity to Atlanta’s urban core.
Keisha Carter, co-owner of the upcoming McDonough location, emphasized that the decision to build new was born out of a necessity for quality and long-term viability. During the site selection process, Carter and Gladmon evaluated several "second-generation" restaurant spaces—locations that had previously housed other dining establishments. However, the duo found that existing structures in the immediate area did not meet the brand’s rigorous standards for kitchen efficiency, guest flow, and modern aesthetic requirements.
"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 stated. She noted that while the physical structure will be brand new, the goal is to foster a sense of established community. "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."
The Evolution of The Flying Biscuit Café Brand
The Flying Biscuit Café first opened its doors in 1993 in Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood. What began as a small, local "biscuit shop" quickly evolved into a regional powerhouse known for its eclectic decor, friendly service, and a menu that redefined southern breakfast staples. Over the last three decades, the brand has transitioned from a single neighborhood favorite into a robust franchise system with locations scattered across the Southeast and beyond.
The brand’s identity is anchored by its signature "flying biscuits" and cranberry apple butter, but its longevity is attributed to its ability to adapt to changing dietary trends. The McDonough location will continue this tradition, offering a menu that balances indulgent southern comfort food with health-conscious and plant-based alternatives. Signature items such as stuffed French toast and shrimp and grits will share the menu with vegan scrambles, gluten-friendly options, and traditional lunch fare like burgers and wraps.
The 2027 opening in McDonough is part of a broader, aggressive expansion strategy for the company. In recent months, The Flying Biscuit Café has signed leases in several high-growth markets, including Raleigh, North Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; Abilene, Texas; and the St. Louis metropolitan area. This multi-state expansion signals the brand’s transition from a Georgia-centric operation to a national competitor in the "daytime dining" sector, a category of the restaurant industry that has seen explosive growth over the last decade.
Real Estate Logistics and Development Timeline
The successful lease negotiation for the Jonesboro Road site involved several key players in the regional commercial real estate sector. Sam Zelony of The Windsor Realty Group provided real estate representation for the franchisees, Carter and Gladmon. On the landlord and developer side, Daniel Hunt of D&G Development Group represented the property interests.
The timeline for a late 2027 opening reflects the complexities of ground-up development in the current economic climate. Building a restaurant from scratch involves several stages, including site preparation, foundation laying, utility integration, and specialized interior outfitting. For a brand like The Flying Biscuit, the kitchen requirements are substantial, necessitating high-capacity ovens and specialized refrigeration to manage the volume of fresh biscuits and made-from-scratch sides produced daily.
Industry analysts note that ground-up developments, while more time-consuming and capital-intensive than "plug-and-play" leases, offer franchisees greater control over the customer experience. By designing the floor plan from the start, Carter and Gladmon can optimize the kitchen for both dine-in service and the brand’s robust catering arm, which is expected to be a major component of the McDonough operation.
Economic and Community Impact in Henry County
The arrival of The Flying Biscuit Café is expected to provide a localized economic boost to the McDonough area. Beyond the initial construction jobs created by the buildout, the café will eventually employ dozens of local residents, ranging from front-of-house servers and baristas to back-of-house culinary staff and management.
Furthermore, the commitment to catering services represents a significant utility for the local community. The franchisees have expressed a clear intent to serve the institutional needs of Henry County, specifically targeting schools, local government offices, and corporate events. By providing full-service catering, the café aims to integrate itself into the civic fabric of the county, moving beyond the role of a simple retail tenant to become a community partner.
The broader implications of this lease signing also point to the continued "densification" of Jonesboro Road. As more national and regional brands anchor themselves in this corridor, property values in the surrounding area typically see a positive correlation, often followed by further residential development. The presence of a recognized brand like The Flying Biscuit serves as a "proof of concept" for other developers, signaling that the McDonough market possesses the discretionary income and population density to support premium casual dining.
Analysis of the Daytime Dining Market
The expansion of The Flying Biscuit Café occurs within a larger trend in the American food and beverage industry: the rise of the breakfast and brunch specialist. Data from the National Restaurant Association indicates that the "breakfast daypart" has remained one of the most resilient segments of the industry, even through periods of economic volatility. Consumers have shown an increasing willingness to spend on high-quality morning meals, viewing brunch not just as a meal, but as a social event.
Competitors in this space, such as First Watch and Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, have demonstrated that a focus on fresh ingredients and a "daytime-only" business model can lead to high profitability and operational efficiency. The Flying Biscuit Café differentiates itself within this crowded market by leaning heavily into its "Southern Roots" branding and its legacy status in the Atlanta market. For residents of McDonough, many of whom may have frequented the original Atlanta locations, the new café offers a sense of nostalgic brand loyalty combined with the convenience of a local neighborhood spot.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As the project moves into the architectural and permitting phases, the franchisees will be working closely with local Henry County officials to ensure the development meets all municipal codes and community standards. While the 2027 opening date remains a distant horizon, the signing of the lease is the definitive first step in bringing a beloved Atlanta institution to a new generation of diners in the southern suburbs.
For the community of McDonough, the announcement serves as a harbinger of continued growth. The transformation of Jonesboro Road from a transit corridor into a destination for dining and commerce is a testament to the area’s evolving identity. When the doors finally open in the fourth quarter of 2027, The Flying Biscuit Café will likely stand as a centerpiece of this new commercial landscape, offering its trademark biscuits and a new "third place" for the residents of Henry County to gather.
In the interim, the brand continues to monitor its other regional developments, ensuring that the lessons learned from ground-up builds in Texas and Missouri can be applied to the McDonough project. With a focus on quality, community, and strategic growth, Carter and Gladmon are poised to bring a fresh culinary perspective to a county that is clearly ready to receive it. Further updates regarding the construction progress and specific opening festivities are expected to be released as the project moves closer to its projected completion date.
