Carlisle Corp. sells LYFE Kitchen
Memphis-based Carlisle Corp. has sold the LYFE Kitchen brand to LYFE Kitchen franchisee L3 Hospitality Group based out of Chicago.
In conjunction with the sale, the LYFE Kitchen restaurant located in downtown Memphis at 272 S. Main St. has been closed as of Friday.
“LYFE Kitchen was a fantastic brand that looks to change how we perceive ‘healthy food.’ Unfortunately, as we aligned our strategic priorities, we did not have the time or resources necessary to fulfill LYFE’s potential and felt a divesture made sense of all parties,” said Chance Carlisle, CEO of Carlisle Corp.
“We have our plate full with the start of One Beale and the continued opportunistic growth of our Wendy’s business as we continue to evaluate expansion options.”
With the sale, Carlisle will refocus on its core Wendy’s restaurants. The company has grown from 74 restaurants to nearly 152 across the southeastern United States over the past few years.
Carlisle, the developer of the One Beale project in downtown Memphis, also has announced its intention to start construction on the $135 million mixeduse development in early 2019 in its long quest to transform the Memphis riverfront.
Carlisle Corp. brought the fast-casual and healthy LYFE Kitchen concept to Memphis in 2015. The first LYFE Kitchen location in Memphis, at 6201 Poplar Ave., was closed in November 2017. At that same time, three more of the company’s 12 restaurants were closed; those restaurants were in California.
As of this month, only the downtown Memphis and three Chicago locations were listed on the brand’s website.
L3 Hospitality will continue to operate three LYFE Kitchen locations in Chicago.
“We began our adventure with LYFE because of our passion for what this brand stands for — Love Your Food Everyday,” said Gail Taggart, co-founder of L3 Hospitality.
“We have enjoyed a long partnership with the Carlisle company and appreciate this opportunity to continue bringing a delicious, fulfilling dining experience to our friends and neighbors in the city we love most.”