A local couple is turning their love for Memphis into an exciting new dining and community hub. Chris and Karin Conlee will be opening Breadie’s Cafe-poised to become the city’s new favorite third place-in One City Church, with plans to be customer-ready this autumn.
Breadie’s promises to fit quite a bit into its home within 120 N East Yates Road. The main restaurant, which will open later this year, will have room to seat about 80 customers. The cafe will also feature an open porch able to accommodate another 70 visitors which is set to open in spring of 2027. Breadie’s will also have a private dining room available for rent for private events.
Karin Conlee, one of the driving forces behind the concept, was kind enough to speak to What Now Memphis about Breadie’s genesis and all that it will bring to the neighborhood. “We wanted to create a place that had excellent food and an excellent environment where people can build community.” she explains, adding that while the eatery will be located in a church, it will appeal to anyone with a passion for great food and a welcoming environment. “This is located in a church but there is nothing about it that is what you would expect from a church restaurant.”
Breadie’s will have a “sub-entrance” which guests will be able to access as soon as they enter One City’s double doors. The Conlees aspire to make the cafe a community staple, anchored in warmth and kindness. Karin states: “It’s in a neighborhood that’s walkable and we hope our neighbors will love it. The tagline is ‘bake me happy’. We want it to be a place where there’s a lot of joy and a lot of friendship.”
The couple named this new endeavor after someone who embodied those principles-Chris’s father. Karin says: “The name is named after my husband’s father-he was a breadman and ‘Breadie’ was his nickname. He had a hard life but he loved bringing joy and laughter to people and we wanted to create something in his honor.”
While Breadie’s is well-designed to feed the soul, hungry future regulars can rest assured the cafe will certainly feed their stomachs as well. Karin states that it will have: “a full barista, full high-end coffee options, as well as breakfast and lunch menus. We’ll have family catering to-go options and brunch on the weekends.”
Breadie’s will offer a full and diverse menu, full of options certain to make mouths water and tummies rumble. Karin offers this glimpse of what’s in store: “It will be a full bakery with homemade croissants, baguettes…we’ll have bagels, scones and biscuits, alongside cinnamon rolls and a huge chocolate chip sea salt cookie. Our regular breakfast menu will feature a classic breakfast sandwich, quiche and granola. We’ll have live fire pizza, and we’ll do soup and salad. Our specialty will be a low country gumbo. We’ll have a Breadie’s burger, chicken salad…For the weekend brunch menu we’ll have some specialty items alongside the full menu.”
Breadie’s will be open from 6:30 to 6:30, Tuesday through Friday and 7:30 to 3:30 on Saturdays and Sundays, when it will offer brunch. Karin states that while the restaurant will not, initially, be open during the evenings, it will eventually offer occasional specialty nights after its initial launch phase.
The Conlees are hoping to hold Breadie’s grand opening in mid-October, and Karin assures excited locals that the debut will be a big event. “We are going to hold a couple of soft launch events for the neighborhood and different groups within the community.” she says. “It will definitely be a big splash for the grand opening.”
Breadie’s stated goal is to “Nourish the Soul: Nothing is healthier or more enjoyable for the soul than consistently gathering around the table with family and friends. Our goal is for you to be blessed by our people, our environment, and our commitment to excellence.” and it is clear no two people could be more qualified to do just that than Karin and Chris. Memphis residents are in good hands; Karin offers this encouraging summation: “We have a huge heart for this city. Our logo has a nod to the Memphis sign on Beale Street. Everything about it is meant to provide joy, a nod to how much we love our city.”
