August 07, 2026 // Franchising.com // KNOXVILLE, TN — The Flying Biscuit Café has signed a lease for a new café at 327 W Summit Hill Dr SW in Knoxville, Tennessee, bringing the Atlanta-born breakfast and brunch brand to downtown Knoxville for the first time. The café is expected to open in September 2026 and will be owned and operated by Chris Compton, who opened the brand’s first Tennessee location in Knoxville in May 2025.
Compton currently operates the Flying Biscuit Café at 11683 Parkside Drive in the Turkey Creek area, which opened May 25, 2025 and marked the brand’s entry into the Tennessee market. The downtown location will be his second Flying Biscuit café. He has said he expects to develop three to five cafés within roughly a 50-mile radius of Knoxville over the next five years.
The downtown café will include a patio and a full bar. Compton chose the site for its position in the center of the city and its proximity to the University of Tennessee, where he swam competitively as an 11-time All-American and SEC champion. He has spent more than 20 years founding and running companies across finance, real estate development, technology consulting and, most recently, hospitality.
“Downtown has energy to it every day of the week, and there’s still room for a good breakfast in the middle of it,” said Chris Compton, owner of Flying Biscuit Café Knoxville. “I swam at Tennessee, so putting a restaurant here means something to me. Students, families, people who work downtown — we want all of them fed well and looked after.”
Compton also plans to work with Knoxville-area nonprofits through the new café, continuing the community involvement he has built around the Turkey Creek location. Hours and hiring details will be announced closer to opening.
Local media and community partnership inquiries can be directed to
marketing@flyingbiscuit.com. Prospective franchise partners can learn more at flyingbiscuitfranchising.com.
Founded in Atlanta in 1993, The Flying Biscuit Café has grown into a beloved neighborhood staple, known for its all-day breakfast, cheerful service, and comfort food with a twist. The menu features bold, Southern-inspired takes on brunch favorites — from stuffed French toast and famous shrimp and grits to hearty omelets, vegan scrambles, burgers, and wraps. Many locations also offer a full bar with brunch-forward cocktails, including mimosa flights and the signature “Stage 5 Clinger” Bloody Mary.
Flying Biscuit serves tens of thousands of biscuits every week and proudly provides full-service catering for events of all sizes. The brand is expanding rapidly through strategic franchise partnerships, with 43 locations open and 11 in development across Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Texas — and more on the way.
For more information, visit flyingbiscuit.com. To learn about franchise opportunities, visit flyingbiscuitfranchising.com.
SOURCE The Flying Biscuit Café
The Flying Biscuit Café is an eclectic neighborhood restaurant nationally recognized for its natural, hip cuisine and charming atmosphere.