Opens in a new tab

Buy a Sunny Street Cafe Franchise

Sunny Street Café is a family-focused breakfast-and-lunch franchise serving made-from-scratch, home-style American food. The menu is built around signature “big as the plate” buttermilk pancakes and the Fancy Pancake lineup, alongside stuffed biscuits and gravy, omelettes, sandwiches, salads, homemade soups and from-scratch baked goods.

A defining feature is the half-day operating model: cafés run from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., a single daily shift that simplifies staffing and scheduling. Restaurants are typically located in neighborhood shopping centers rather than freestanding buildings, which lowers real estate and buildout costs. The system operates roughly two dozen corporate and franchised cafés across Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Alabama.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Sunny Street Café is a family-owned company founded in the mid-2000s and led by CEO and President Scott Moffitt. It is one of the few family-owned breakfast-and-lunch franchises in a segment otherwise dominated by large national chains.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Sunny Street Cafe resales available

Why buy a Sunny Street Cafe Franchise?

Buying a Sunny Street Café franchise gives an owner a foothold in the breakfast-and-lunch category, one of the more resilient and steadily growing parts of casual dining. The concept’s appeal is its lifestyle: a single morning-to-early-afternoon shift means no dinner service, no late nights and limited alcohol to manage, which owners value for work-life balance and for easier hiring and retention.

The shopping-center, leasehold model keeps occupancy and buildout costs lower than freestanding restaurant formats, and the streamlined menu is designed to run without an executive chef. Franchisees join an established family-owned system with corporate marketing and operational support, and the “Fancy Pancake” signature items give the brand a recognisable point of difference in a crowded breakfast market.

Sunny Street Cafe Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2007

    • Franchising Since

      2008

    • New Startup Cost

      $464,545 – $1,307,514

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details
  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

      plus out-of-pocket costs (broker, attorney fees)

    • Royalty Fee

      5.25%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      2.5%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      22

    • New Units Opened *

      0

    • Units Transferred *

      1

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $1,261,524

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Sunny Street Cafe – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Sunny Street Café provides incoming franchisees with initial training covering food preparation, hiring, financial management and day-to-day operations, backed by on-site assistance during the early running of a café. Ongoing support includes marketing programmes, operational guidance and a connected network of fellow owners, with the simplified single-shift menu and schedule designed to make management and staffing easier. Resale buyers should confirm with the corporate team what transfer training and onboarding the franchisor provides to incoming owners and what support carries over with an existing café.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The model suits a hands-on, community-minded operator who wants to be present in the café rather than a passive investor. Prior restaurant experience is not required, as training is provided, but owners should be comfortable managing an hourly team, controlling food and labour costs, and delivering consistent service across a busy single shift. Strong local relationships matter: the best operators engage with their neighbourhood to build repeat family clientele. The half-day schedule particularly suits owners seeking work-life balance alongside an active operating role.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Sunny Street Café has built its reputation largely on its food, earning recognition for its signature pancakes and made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch menu within the fast-growing breakfast café segment. The company also recognises standout operators internally through its Franchise Operators of the Year award, reflecting a tight-knit, family-owned culture. Formal third-party franchise rankings are limited, so for resale buyers brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific café's local reviews, community reputation and referral strength.

  4. Industry / Market

    Breakfast and brunch have been among the fastest-growing dayparts in US restaurants, supported by demand for convenient, affordable sit-down meals and a strong brunch culture. The breakfast-and-lunch café niche has gained room as several legacy national chains have retrenched, leaving openings for community-focused franchises. The format avoids the dinner rush and carries lower alcohol complexity, though sales stay sensitive to local foot traffic, competition and consumer spending. For resale buyers, a café's strength depends heavily on its trade area and local breakfast competition.

Learn more about
how to own a Sunny Street Cafe franchise resale

Please fill out the form below and a Franchise Flippers expert will be in touch with you shortly.

The Franchise Brand Index

This page is part of Franchise Flippers’ independent franchise Index, designed as an educational resource to help potential buyers explore the franchise resale market and compare brands.

Trademark & Affiliation Disclaimer

This website is an independent, informational resource. All trademarks, logos, and brand names displayed are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for identification and educational purposes. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, endorsement by, or sponsorship from the respective trademark holders.