Belly Acres opens a second location in East Memphis

The Weekly Dish

Jennifer Chandler

Memphis Commercial Appeal USA TODAY NETWORK — TENN.

Belly Acres’ “Citified Farm Fresh” burgers and shakes are now available in East Memphis.

A new Belly Acres restaurant opened Saturday at 6130 Poplar Ave. in the Regalia Shopping Center in East Memphis. It is the second location for the restaurant. The original opened in 2014 in Overton Square.

The Memphis-based fast-casual restaurant is known for its commitment to delivering a fun and unique farm-to-table experience for the entire family. The signature burgers are made from 100% grass-fed beef, and the chicken is freerange. It also has vegetarian options.

The menu will be the same at both locations.

Owner Lee Scifres said his goal has always been to expand the brand. He purchased the restaurant in February 2019.

“I knew I wanted to expand the brand when I bought Belly Acres. I just didn’t realize it would happen so quickly,” said Scifres.

Jonathan Aur of Boyle Investment Co., the leasing company for Regalia, had approached Scifres about taking over the retail space that formerly had been a maternity store.

When the new location was announced in December 2019, Aur told The Commercial Appeal, “We are thrilled to have such a great brand join Regalia Shopping Center and think that Belly Acres will really add to our already vi

brant development.”

The new restaurant will offer the same fare and family-friendly service the brand is known for, but will have a slightly different look.

Scifres said because the goal is to open additional locations, he needed to simplify the concept and make it replicable. He hired Memphis architect firm rachimania to help him create a new look with a unique wow factor.

“Their idea was a pink tractor. It has a farm theme and is something recognizable for our brand,” said Scifres.

The pink tractor is a prominent feature of the new restaurant, as well as the company’s new logo.

“While it may look different, the new

restaurant has the same heart, soul and hospitality behind it,” Scifres said.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal.

She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.

Lee Scifres said the menu will be the same at both locations. The signature burgers are made from 100% grass-fed beef, and the chicken is free-range. It also offers vegetarian options.

Owner Lee Scifres hired Memphis architect firm rachimania to help him create a new look with a unique wow factor.

PHOTOS/ARIEL COBBERT/ THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Belly Acres has a new location on Poplar Avenue in Memphis, on Friday, December 18, 2020.