A Kentucky-based brunch chain is staking its first claim in Texas, and it's landing in Cypress. Wild Eggs is preparing to open its first Texas location in the greater Houston region, taking over a space at Cypress Creek Plaza that was formerly home to Sapporo, a Japanese steakhouse and bar.
The plans surfaced through a building permit rather than a company announcement — Wild Eggs has not officially confirmed the expansion, according to Chron, which credited What Now with first reporting the news. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation received a permit filing for a new Wild Eggs at 9814 Fry Rd. in Cypress on October 1, Chron reports, with construction scheduled to start on October 15. The outlet notes that permit dates and timeframes don't necessarily establish the restaurant's actual opening date, and that it has reached out to Wild Eggs for more information, planning to update the story if the company responds.
The buildout itself is substantial. Per the permit, the project covers roughly 4,100 square feet and is expected to cost around $730,000, with work slated to wrap up by January 15, 2027, according to Chron's reporting. A separate account from What Now, which first reported the planned Cypress location, describes the same filing as covering an existing 4,107-square-foot suite and lists the finish date as mid-January 2027, with the project pegged at an estimated $730,000. What Now also names Wild Eggs franchisee Ben Rush as the person listed on the permit who is leading the opening.
Conflicting Timelines for a Houston Debut
Exactly when diners can expect eggs on their plates remains murky. Community Impact reports that Wild Eggs has plans to open its first Texas location in Cypress by the end of the year, while the same What Now report cited above says the new restaurant should open by early next year if permitting and construction stay on schedule. The two timelines don't fully line up, and neither has been confirmed by Wild Eggs itself.
Community Impact also reports that the Cypress Creek Plaza location will be in Suite 240 at 9814 Fry Road, matching the address in the permit filing. The development itself is a 51,000-square-foot retail center with three multitenant buildings and three pad sites facing Fry Road, according to ConnectCRE, which reports the plaza sits in the Cypress Creek Lakes master-planned community on Houston's far northwest side and is anchored by an H-E-B grocery store. ConnectCRE adds that the property has attracted 17 businesses and is currently 80% leased.
From Louisville Diner to Growing Franchise
Wild Eggs traces its roots to 2007, when JD Rothberg and Shane Hall opened the first location in Louisville, Kentucky, intending to create a scratch-made, finer-dining brunch experience. The chain has since grown through a series of ownership changes: Patoka Capital LLC acquired a majority stake in 2015 to support regional expansion, and the Miami-based investment fund PG Growth Opportunities purchased Wild Eggs for an undisclosed sum in January 2023, per What Now's account. Rothberg later rejoined the company as senior vice president of operations in 2023 to oversee franchise quality standards.
Counts of how many Wild Eggs locations currently exist vary depending on the source and date. Community Impact reports that Wild Eggs has 19 locations across Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, while What Now similarly states the chain has at least 19 locations in those three states — though earlier reporting from Lane Report put the figure at 18 following an August 2025 opening in Lexington, and a Nation's Restaurant News report from an earlier point in the company's growth cited 15 locations employing more than 400 people across those states.
That Lexington location, the chain's third in the city, opened at 4228 Saron Drive, Suite A, occupying 4,700 square feet and offering dine-in service alongside carryout and third-party delivery, according to Lane Report. It's part of a broader franchising push that began in earnest in 2024, when Wild Eggs launched its official franchise program and signed its first development deal with longtime operator Travis Hall for Lexington locations, per What Now's reporting. Nation's Restaurant News reported separately that Wild Eggs announced it was open for franchising and initially targeting eight states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
A Wider Southern Push
The Cypress project fits into a pattern of aggressive growth. In July, Wild Eggs announced franchise opportunities across multiple states, with its current list including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. Separately, Bizjournals reported that a Wild Eggs franchisee of more than 10 years plans to open four new locations in Kentucky, underscoring the brand's reliance on experienced operators to fuel its expansion.
Wild Eggs is known for scratch-made breakfast and brunch built around locally sourced ingredients. The Louisville chain was founded in 2007. Whether that formula translates to a Houston suburb known for its sprawling retail centers and master-planned subdivisions remains to be seen, but the permit paperwork suggests the company is moving forward with real money and a real address, even without a public announcement to match.
