ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Orange Beach residents will soon experience the ultimate dose of Southern Hospitality. Another Broken Egg Cafe, the 22-unit restaurant chain known for a charming atmosphere and wide-ranging menu of gourmet culinary options, announced today the signing of a franchise agreement in Orange Beach.

The location has not been revealed.

Plans are to open the new Another Broken Egg Cafe in the summer of 2013, followed by additional units in Tuscaloosa and Fairhope.

With franchised restaurants already open in Alabama in Birmingham and Huntsville, the Another Broken Egg Cafe of Orange Beach will feature a 90-entrée, made-from-scratch menu, the world’s tastiest Bloody Mary and a one-of-a-kind brand culture.

“Another Broken Egg Cafe is all about combining gourmet fare with a distinct attention to detail, and I expect that pairing to be well-received in Orange Beach,” said Lacy Pynes, franchise owner of the new location. “No other restaurant in the area offers our vast menu selection or quality.”

Pynes went on to note that Another Broken Egg Cafe shines in the congested restaurant sector due to an extensive breakfast menu that includes the likes of Huevos Rancheros, Banana’s Foster and eight ‘Signature’ Benedicts, as well as popular lunch offerings ranging from gourmet burgers to Smoked Salmon BLT Wraps. With an average ticket of $12.90 per person, Another Broken Egg Cafe offers guests an upscale, holiday-like experience at an affordable price point.

The Orange Beach development is part of a much larger mission to double the total number of restaurant locations by 2014 – which includes eight franchise agreements already signed in Tennessee, six in North Carolina and other planned for Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. In addition to the food and atmosphere, Orange Beach residents should take a quick liking to Another Broken Egg Cafe because of the boost it will provide to the local economy. Each restaurant opening generates 25 to 35 new jobs and awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in local development contracts.

Founded in 1996, Florida-based Another Broken Egg Cafe has become the darling of diners and restaurant critics across the Southeast, often seen with 45-minute waits out the door. According to Nick Binnings, who oversees brand development, ideal sites for Another Broken Egg Cafe franchises include upscale lifestyle centers and resort communities. Total investment costs for the franchise range from $450,000-$900,000, depending on the site and the market. The company is able to keep investment costs relatively low by retrofitting the concept into existing buildings where previous restaurants occupied.