Staff photo by Dave Flessner / A runner passes by the former 405 Mid-East Bistro on Market Street, which closed in April after only eight months of operation. A new New Orleans-theme restaurant, Ruby Sunshine, plans to open in the same space by early next year.A New Orleans-based restaurant chain that features all-day brunch entries plans to open its fourth Tennessee location in downtown Chattanooga.
Ruby Sunshine, which features all-day brunch menus with a New Orleans flair, is opening its newest eatery at 405 Market Street in the site of the former 405 Mid-East Bistro, which closed in April, The Henpecked Chicken, which closed in 2017, and Noodles & Co., which closed in 2015. Despite the previous restaurant failures at the same location, the founders and owners of Ruby Sunshine believe their unique offering will fit well in Chattanooga's downtown when it opens, in either late 2019 or early 2020.
"Chattanooga has always stood out to us as a city with authentic, old-school charm and an energizing restaurant scene, so we're thrilled to be joining the community," Jennifer Weishaupt, the founder and co-owner of Ruby Sunshine, said Thursday in an announcement of the new restaurant. "We are looking forward to introducing Chattanooga to Ruby Sunshine and the New Orleans flair that our restaurants are famous for."
Founded in post-Katrina New Orleans in 2008, Jennifer and Erich Weishaupt revitalized a blighted corner store into the Ruby Slipper Cafe.
Contributed photo by Ruby Sunshine / Ruby Sunshine menu features a variety of brunch items served throughout the day.The menu for Ruby Sunshine will echo the one at Ruby Slipper Café, which includes award-winning New Orleans twists on Southern breakfast staples like BBQ Shrimp & Grits, Eggs Cochon Benedict and Bananas Foster Pain Perdu, as well as morning time cocktails like the Brandy Milk Punch, Morning Margarita, Mimosas and their award winning Bloody Marys. Ruby Sunshine said it hopes partner with local purveyors in Tennessee.
Ruby Sunshine already operates restaurants in Knoxville and Franklin, Tennessee and in Birmingham, Alabama and plans to soon open other locations in Nashville, Charlotte, North Carolina and Chattanooga. Long term, Weishaulpt said the restaurant chain plans to expand into other markets in the Southeast.
"Similar to New Orleans, which is the birthplace of the company and sister brand Ruby Slipper, Chattanooga is rich in culture and has such a unique identity," she said. "You can feel the local's city pride and it made us want to be part of the community. We chose our location in the merging area of the Southside and Northside so the restaurant will be easily accessible to locals from both neighborhoods."
The new Ruby Sunshine will employ 45 to 50 full- and part-time employees and the company is now recruiting managers to fill some of the intial jobs to be hired for the restaurant opening.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340.
Staff photo by Dave Flessner / The former 405 Mid-East Bistro on Market Street, which closed in April after only eight months of operation, stands empty. But a new New Orleans-theme restaurant, Ruby Sunshine, plans to open in the same space by early next year.