‘Daytime cafe’ in the works at south-side Shoney’s

A restaurant concept is in the works at the vacant Shoney’s on South National Avenue.

Property owner James Tillman is listed on Dec. 14 city building permits as working on restaurant infill renovation and interior demolition at 2946 S. National Ave., where Shoney’s vacated 5,000 square feet in 2013. Signage out front indicates Federal Construction Inc. is the contractor on the project with financing provided by Springfield First Community Bank.

Reached this morning, Tillman told Springfield Business Journal a First Watch restaurant is planned at the property. After confirming the breakfast and lunch restaurant plans, he declined to answer further questions. Tillman also co-owns Complete Electrical Solutions LLC.

A spokeswoman with University Park, Florida-based First Watch Restaurants Inc. would not confirm the plans.

“We haven’t yet agreed to open First Watch in Springfield. We’re always looking at real estate in new markets, though we have not fully executed any leases in the Springfield area yet. We have nothing to announce at this time,” Eleni Kouvatsos said via email.

Kevin Pierce in the city’s Building Development Services Department said a specific restaurant name was not on file for the South National property. An official with Federal Construction referred questions to Tillman.

Last month, Tillman spoke with the Springfield News-Leader about rumors First Watch was coming to the city at the old Shoney’s.

"I would like to open another breakfast-lunch restaurant concept at that location, but I do not at this time have any one confirmed,” he told News-Leader reporter Steve Pokin.

First Watch franchisees agree to development costs of $30,000 to $40,000 per unit as well as ongoing royalties of 4 percent, according to FirstWatch.com.

First Watch Restaurants operates 200 “daytime cafe” First Watch restaurants and 96 The Egg & I eateries in the United States. Missouri locations are listed in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. Some 20 restaurants are located in the markets, including on the Kansas side of the city. The company’s website lists nine restaurants on the way, including one in Kansas City.