The Athens, Tennessee, location introduces Huddle House’s first Walmart restaurant, pairing familiar comfort food with an express menu built around shoppers’ schedules.
- Huddle House opens its first restaurant inside a Walmart in Athens, TN.
- The new location features a nontraditional format and express menu.
- Owned by Brooke and Tyler Goodner as part of a three-unit development agreement.
- This marks a historical expansion for Huddle House into retail locations.
- Peter Ortiz emphasizes the strategic community-focused expansion.
Huddle House is bringing its homestyle cooking into a Walmart in Athens, Tennessee, marking the brand’s first restaurant inside the retail chain. Located at 1815 Decatur Pike, the restaurant introduces an express format designed for customers who want a convenient meal during a shopping trip. The opening gives Huddle House a new way to reach customers beyond its traditional standalone diners.
The location combines counter service with seating, allowing shoppers to take their food to go or sit down before returning to their errands. The menu features Huddle House favorites, including all-day breakfast, burgers, the MVP Waffle Stacker and the MVP Chicken Biscuit Sandwich. The express format aims to balance convenience with the familiar appeal of a sit-down meal.
The restaurant is owned and operated by Brooke and Tyler Goodner, who are entering the restaurant industry through a three-unit Huddle House development agreement. The Athens opening marks the first step in their plans with the brand. The couple sees Huddle House’s emphasis on accessible, homestyle food as a strong fit for the local community and its everyday routines.
Peter Ortiz, Chief Development Officer of Ascent Hospitality Management, Huddle House’s parent company, highlighted the opening as part of the brand’s effort to explore new ways of reaching customers. Locating a restaurant inside a major retailer places the menu where shoppers are already spending time, creating a different path to customer discovery than a conventional roadside location.
As restaurant brands expand into new settings, franchise operators must keep training, service standards and operating information consistent across locations. The Resource Library feature available through Gorilla Dash can help teams organize reference materials and operating guidance, making essential information easier to maintain as a franchise network grows.
Key Facts:
| First Restaurant Location | Huddle House has opened its first restaurant inside a Walmart, located in Athens, Tennessee. |
|---|---|
| New Nontraditional Format | This marks Huddle House's move into a nontraditional restaurant format with an express menu. |
| Owners of Athens Location | The restaurant is operated by Brooke and Tyler Goodner, business owners new to the restaurant industry. |
| Strategic Expansion | Huddle House is expanding into retail spaces to integrate with community routines. |
| Role of Ascent Hospitality | Peter Ortiz, part of Ascent Hospitality, sees this as a strategic growth opportunity for Huddle House. |
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