Mt. Juliet’s bagel turf is about to get even more crowded. Einstein Bros. is moving into the former KFC on Lebanon Road near North Mt. Juliet Road, with plans to open on Aug. 1, 2026, giving the town its fourth bagel shop in just a few years.
Franchisee Nishant "Neil" Meraiya told Main Street Media of Tennessee he will convert the former Kentucky Fried Chicken building into a full-fledged Einstein Bros. serving classic bagels, egg sandwiches, and sweets. According to the outlet, the property is owned by Lineberry Properties, and construction is expected to take about two-and-a-half months. Meraiya also told the publication he recently opened another Einstein Bros. in Nashville.
He will not be the only one slinging bagels in town. Local independents are already feeding the carb crowd: The Ugly Bagel opened last month near North Mt. Juliet Road and Division Street, next to a Sprouts Farmers Market, while Jersey Oven Bagels, which opened in 2020, has become a go-to for many residents. The Ugly Bagel opening was covered by AOL, and Jersey Oven’s location and reviews are listed on TripAdvisor. For commuters and students near Mt. Juliet High, that means more breakfast choices, along with the likelihood of longer early-morning lines.
Franchisee And Local Developers
Meraiya is no stranger to the regional restaurant scene. He has developed multiple restaurant and hospitality projects in Tennessee, with earlier coverage tying him to several franchised concepts around Nashville. A 2018 item from PR Newswire highlighted his role in opening a Captain D’s in the greater Nashville area, underscoring his multi-concept background. The Einstein Bros. brand already operates in the broader Nashville market, which helps explain why the Lebanon Road corridor is now on its radar.
Timing, Traffic, and What’s Next
Lineberry Properties, which owns the former KFC parcel, told Main Street Media of Tennessee that other suitors had eyed the site, but the company ultimately decided a bagel shop was the right fit. The same report notes that Lineberry plans to break ground on a Golden Bear Wine & Spirits later this summer, and that the former Whataburger site along the same stretch has a new tenant locked in. If construction on Einstein Bros. stays on schedule, the shop should be open in time for the back-to-school rush.
For now, Mt. Juliet residents will watch to see how a national chain settles in alongside the town’s homegrown bagel spots. We will keep tracking the build-out and share updates as they come.
