Popular Breakfast and Brunch Chain Opens 4,000-Square-Foot Restaurant at Former IHOP Location
(UCBJ) – The wait is over.
First Watch (FW), the popular breakfast, brunch and lunch chain, held a soft opening this morning, Nov. 7, and will officially open its 4,000-square-foot restaurant at 1115 Interstate Drive in Cookeville on Monday, Nov. 9. The restaurant seats more than 150 guests.
It all started with the surprise (to some) closure of IHOP in June, when the UCBJ reported that the restaurant would close following a $4.62 million sale of the property to Verlaine Capital. First Watch is now under a 15-year lease with three five-year options to extend, according to documents.
The all-cash deal included both the property and the building.
What will First Watch bring? Approximately 30 jobs and opening-week promotions, according to the company.
The restaurant will also feature:
- A covered patio
- A chef-inspired menu
- Rotating seasonal offerings
Customers dining at the restaurant from Monday, Nov. 9, through Friday, Nov. 13, will receive unlimited “Project Sunrise” coffee with their meal. The restaurant will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for dine-in, pickup and delivery service.
Check out the menu HERE. The Cookeville restaurant is scheduled to introduce its first seasonal menu in January 2027, according to the company.
Soft opening – First Watch held a soft opening event on Saturday Nov. 7.
“First Watch is widely beloved for its modern take on breakfast and brunch. Dishes are made to order using fresh ingredients in a kitchen without heat lamps, microwaves or deep fryers. In addition to familiar favorites like omelets and The Traditional, First Watch’s diverse menu – which is available all day – also includes innovative dishes, such as Avocado Toast, Farmhouse Hash, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and its signature Million Dollar Bacon, as well as sandwiches and salads,” according to a release by the company.
The original First Watch opened in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983.
The Cookeville opening comes amid significant growth for First Watch, which recently reported that second-quarter total revenues rose 15.2% to $354.7 million from $307.9 million a year earlier. Systemwide sales also rose 14.7% to $397 million.
“We delivered a strong second quarter,” said Chris Tomasso, CEO and president of First Watch, in the company’s earnings release.
For more information, to place an order or to join the restaurant’s digital waitlist, visit firstwatch.com. For those interested in applying, visit careers.firstwatch.com.
UCBJ Photos.
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