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 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…