From left: Clovis Mayor Vang Moua presents a certificate of recognition to Eggbred franchise owner Varinder Singh during the restaurant's grand opening. Photo by Denine Currie

Eggbred has opened its first Central Valley location in Clovis, drawing lines around the building during its opening weekend as its local franchise owner looks toward further expansion in Fresno and Clovis.

The fast-casual breakfast restaurant opened Saturday at 1127 N. Willow Ave., Suite 105, near Willow and Nees avenues, following a three-month renovation of a former ice cream shop.

From customer to owner

Franchise owner Varinder Singh, a Clovis resident whose professional background is as a pharmacy technician, said his move into the restaurant business started after trying Eggbred as a customer.

“I was their customer and I loved their food,” Singh said. “From customer to owner, that’s the journey.”

His daughter was also a fan of the restaurant and encouraged him to try it, Singh said. The family eventually decided to franchise the concept and bring it to the Fresno-Clovis area.

Founded by chef and CEO Albert Shim in La Habra in 2020, Eggbred specializes in breakfast sandwiches and other fast-casual breakfast dishes. Shim has appeared on Food Network and Travel Channel programs.

The Clovis restaurant occupies about 1,400 square feet in a storefront previously occupied by an ice cream shop. Singh said the interior was completely rebuilt to accommodate Eggbred’s kitchen, which takes up a significant portion of the relatively small space.

“We redid the whole inside because our kitchen is huge,” Singh said. “We cannot compromise on our kitchen and kitchen layout.”

Singh said the project went from permitting to opening in about three months and credited Clovis fire, planning and building officials with helping move the project through the approval process.

 

Lines around the block

The restaurant received a larger-than-expected response during its opening. Singh said what was intended as a soft opening the day before the official grand opening drew enough customers that staff stayed late preparing for the following day.

“We opened up for a soft opening yesterday and it became a grand opening,” Singh said. “People showed so much love.”

Customers again lined up around the building for the grand opening.

Clovis Mayor Vang Moua attended the opening and characterized the restaurant as a locally owned small business despite operating under a larger franchise brand.

“This is mom-and-pop,” Moua said. “They’re investing in our city. They’re employing local employees, giving them jobs.”

 

More locations planned

Eggbred’s menu includes its “Scramble Me Softly” breakfast sandwich with French-style scrambled eggs, country fried chicken sandwiches and breakfast poutine served over spiral-cut beer-battered potatoes.

Singh recommended the Benedict Frankie and Country Chicken sandwich to customers trying the restaurant for the first time.

The Clovis opening may not be the family’s last Eggbred restaurant. Singh said his franchise arrangement includes the Fresno and Clovis area and confirmed he is interested in opening additional locations.

“Thank you, Fresno and Clovis, for showing all the love for us,” Singh said. “This is great.”