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Marthie Ann’s to open another location in Ooltewah

Staff Photo by Dave Flessner / The 2,000-square-foot Marthie Ann's restaurant, shown Tuesday, opened in December 2022 and will be expanded later this year, according to owner and chef Joe Keel.
Staff Photo by Dave Flessner / The 2,000-square-foot Marthie Ann's restaurant, shown Tuesday, opened in December 2022 and will be expanded later this year, according to owner and chef Joe Keel. Staff Photo by Dave Flessner / The 2,000-square-foot Marthie Ann's restaurant, shown Tuesday, opened in December 2022 and will be expanded later this year, according to owner and chef Joe Keel.

By Dave Flessner 4 min read


A diner that opened 15 months ago in Cleveland is adding a second location this spring in Ooltewah.

Marthie Ann’s restaurant, which veteran restaurateur Joe Keel opened along Keith Street in his native Cleveland in December 2022, has taken over the lease of the abandoned Southern Burger location in Cambridge Square to add another Marthie Ann’s eatery.

“We’ve continued to grow our business since we opened here in Cleveland, and this is a great location for our second restaurant,” Keel said in a telephone interview. “The restaurant concept was designed to be replicated, and that is our goal. We’re working with some folks in Atlanta about franchising this model.”

Keel, who has managed restaurants from Knoxville to Key West, Florida, decided nearly two years ago to open his own restaurant named after his maternal grandmother, Marthie Ann Stinnett. The eatery opened in a 2,000-square-foot storefront at 3625 Keith St., featuring dine-in, to-go and catering options.