A local burger joint is gearing up for another expansion.
Last year, Belly Acres announced plans to enter the Southaven market. Now, another location is in the works in Bartlett.
The new eatery will be located in the upcoming Union Depot mixed-use development at 6896 US-70, on the former site of Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home.
According to The Daily Memphian, construction has already begun at the 74-acre, $162 million Union Depot. Project developer Keith Grant projects that Belly Acres will debut there by early 2026.
The forthcoming 5,500-square-foot eatery will occupy an endcap on the ground floor of a live/work building, complete with an outdoor dining area.
Barry Maynard and Frank Dyer III of Gill Properties are leasing all the commercial space at the development.
“We wanted it to be kid-friendly. We didn’t want a restaurant that would be bar-heavy with a bunch of alcohol,” Maynard told The Daily Memphian. “We had several other big nationals we could’ve gone with, but we wanted to try to stick with something local.”
Founded in 2014 by Lee Scifres and Ben McLean, Belly Acres is known for its farm-to-table approach to classic American fare like chicken tenders and hamburgers. The restaurant offers 100% grass-fed meat and free-range chicken, as well as vegan and vegetarian options.
The Bartlett Belly Acres will be the third location for the eatery, joining one outlet currently open in East Memphis, with the Southaven site expected to open later this year. The original Overton Square restaurant closed in the fall of 2023.
