Fatz Cafe

Fatz Cafe was a Southern-inspired casual dining restaurant chain that began in 1988 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The brand built its reputation on a menu featuring Calabash chicken and a blend of classic Southern comfort dishes with contemporary American fare. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, Fatz Cafe expanded its presence across the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia, at one point operating more than 40 locations at its peak. The company’s growth was shaped by its focus on family-friendly dining and a welcoming atmosphere, which helped it establish a loyal following in small and mid-sized markets throughout the Southeast.

Fatz Cafe was operated by Cafe Enterprises, Inc., a privately held company that also managed other restaurant concepts. A notable milestone in the brand’s history was its steady expansion throughout the Southeast, which positioned Fatz Cafe as a familiar name in suburban and highway-adjacent communities. However, in the late 2010s, the chain faced significant challenges from increased competition, changing consumer preferences, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These pressures ultimately led Cafe Enterprises to file for bankruptcy in September 2021.

As of December 2022, all Fatz Cafe locations had closed, marking the end of the brand’s 34-year run. The company is now considered defunct, with its website inactive and social media accounts serving only as historical references. For commercial real estate professionals, the former Fatz Cafe sites represent a portfolio of second-generation restaurant spaces, typically in freestanding buildings with ample parking. These properties are now available for lease or redevelopment, offering opportunities for new foodservice or retail operators to enter established suburban and highway-adjacent markets. Key real estate and executive contacts are no longer active, as the company has ceased all operations.