Location, Location, Location: Turnkey Restaurant for Sale in Savannah, GA — Heart of the Historic District
Confidential Listing | Presented by Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate | Atlanta's Premier Restaurant Broker
There's a saying every restaurateur knows by heart: location is everything. After 37 years in the industry — as a chef, a restaurant owner, and now as a commercial real estate broker specializing exclusively in food and beverage — I can tell you that phrase gets thrown around a lot. But every once in a while, a space comes along where it's not just a catchphrase. It's the whole story.
This is one of those spaces.
I'm bringing to market a confidential turnkey restaurant for sale in Savannah, GA — specifically in the heart of the Historic District. It's a fully equipped, second-generation space that checks virtually every box a serious operator could want. Priced at $149,000 as an asset sale, it's an accessible entry point into one of the most tourist-driven, food-obsessed, walkability-obsessed cities in the entire Southeast.
Let me walk you through why this listing is exceptional — and why the location alone could make the difference between a good restaurant and a great one.
"In 37 years in the restaurant industry — as a chef, an owner, and now a broker — I've learned that the right location doesn't just support a great restaurant. It creates one. This space sits in the middle of one of the most walkable, tourist-driven corridors in the entire Southeast. The city does the marketing for you. Your job is to show up with a great concept and execute." — Jimmy Carey, Atlanta's Premier Restaurant Broker
Savannah: Where 12.9 Million Visitors Are Already Walking Past Your Door
Before we talk about the space itself, let's talk about the market — and why a turnkey restaurant for sale in Savannah, GA is one of the most compelling opportunities available to operators right now.
Savannah drew 12.9 million visitors in 2024 — a record high, representing a 2.3% increase over the prior year — generating $4.1 billion in visitor spending across Chatham County. Of those visitors, 7.2 million stayed overnight with an average length of stay of 2.9 nights. That's not a weekend market. That's a sustained, year-round dining economy.
The tourism profile is exceptional for restaurant operators: 89% of overnight visitors are leisure travelers, and they eat out for every meal. They're walking cobblestone streets, reading menus posted in windows, and making dining decisions on foot. Critically, 68% of Savannah's visitors are repeat guests — meaning they've already done the checklist and they're specifically seeking out new dining experiences on return visits.
Savannah's hospitality and tourism sector sustains approximately 30,000 jobs annually, and a $276 million Savannah Convention Center expansion that opened in 2024 is accelerating business and group travel alongside the traditional leisure market. The pipeline is not slowing down.
The Corridor: Sandwiched Between Two of the Most Trafficked Streets in the South
This restaurant is situated in what I'd describe as the perfect storm of pedestrian traffic: steps from West Broughton Street and a short walk from Historic River Street. For anyone who doesn't know Savannah, let me put those two streets into context.
West Broughton Street: Savannah's "Main Street"
West Broughton Street is Savannah's premier commercial corridor. USA Today named it one of the 10 great American shopping streets, and that recognition is backed up by what you see on the ground. Retailers on Broughton report millions of pedestrians walking past their storefronts every year. This isn't foot traffic in the conventional sense — it's a constant, self-sustaining river of tourists, locals, SCAD students, and hotel guests who treat Broughton as the social spine of their Savannah experience.
The Walk Score at the Broughton and Whitaker intersection is 97 out of 100 — officially a "Walker's Paradise," meaning daily errands, dining, shopping, and entertainment require no car whatsoever. For a restaurant operator, that's the gold standard. As I discuss in The Secret Recipe for Choosing the Perfect Restaurant Location, the best restaurant real estate isn't just about being in a high-traffic area — it's about being in the right flow of the right kind of customer. Broughton delivers exactly that.
Shoppers who come to browse the boutiques lining Broughton aren't just shopping — they're spending hours there. The experiential, walkable nature of the street means customers linger, and lingering customers eat. Multiple times a day.
Historic River Street: 3–5 Minutes on Foot
Just a few blocks walking distance from this location is Historic River Street — one of the busiest and most iconic streets in all of Savannah, and arguably the most well-known in Georgia's coastal tourism circuit. The 200-year-old cobblestone promenade along the Savannah River, lined with converted cotton warehouses housing restaurants, bars, galleries, and hotels, is a perpetual destination.
River Street hosts major annual events — St. Patrick's Day festivities (one of the largest celebrations in the United States), monthly First Friday Fireworks, Fourth of July celebrations, and a packed calendar of festivals throughout the year. The foot traffic funnel from River Street back through the Historic District — directly through the corridor where this restaurant sits — is constant and reliable.
What this means for a new operator: the customer is already there. You don't have to manufacture foot traffic with marketing spend. The city brings it to your doorstep.
Turnkey Restaurant for Sale in Savannah, GA: Everything a Serious Operator Needs, Nothing to Build
This is a confidential asset sale — meaning the name, brand, and concept do not transfer. What you're acquiring are the physical assets of a fully built-out, operational restaurant space. And those assets are substantial.
What's Included:
• Approximately 2,000 square feet of restaurant space — the right size for a focused, efficient operation
• Full commercial kitchen with a 16-foot hood — one of the most expensive items to install in any food service build-out
• Grease trap on-site — another major capital expenditure already handled
• Newly built bathrooms — code-compliant, fresh, no capital needed
• Basement space perfect for dry storage, walk-in overflow, or additional prep
• Lease term: 3 + 3 options — up to 7+ years of remaining lease stability at an established address
Asking Price: $149,000
"When I look at this deal, I see what a smart operator sees: a fully equipped kitchen, a 16-foot hood, a grease trap, new bathrooms, and up to 9 years of lease stability — all in a Historic District address that took years to establish. Building this from scratch in Savannah would cost you half a million dollars and 12 months of your life. At $149,000 as an asset sale, you're not buying a restaurant. You're buying a head start." — Jimmy Carey, Atlanta's Premier Restaurant Broker
To put that number in context: if you've studied restaurant startup costs, you know a ground-up build-out runs between $130 and $500 per square foot for construction alone.
On a 2,000 SF space, that's $260,000 to $1,000,000 before you've purchased a single piece of equipment. Add the hood system ($17,000–$150,000), grease trap ($8,000–$35,000), plumbing, electrical, permits, architect fees, equipment, smallwares, furniture, and pre-opening costs — and a comparable first-generation build-out in Savannah's Historic District can easily exceed $500,000 to $1,000,000 total.
This listing skips essentially all of that. The infrastructure is in place. The lease is established. The bathrooms are done. The kitchen is ready.
Why This Turnkey Restaurant for Sale in Savannah, GA Is a Second-Generation Space — and Why That Matters Enormously
This property is a textbook second-generation restaurant space — a previously operated restaurant location that retains its kitchen infrastructure, plumbing, ventilation, and utility connections. For buyers, this is where the real opportunity lives.
Second-generation spaces save operators not just money, but time. While a first-generation build-out typically takes 6 to 15 months from lease execution to opening day, a well-equipped second-generation space can be operational in 1 to 3 months. In Savannah's tourism economy — where revenue flows steadily 12 months a year — getting open faster means capturing market share sooner and building your reviews before the next St. Patrick's Day crowd rolls in.
The pre-installed infrastructure also means simplified licensing pathways. Health department approvals, fire suppression certifications, and kitchen compliance inspections are dramatically easier when the infrastructure already exists and has been previously approved.
The Deal Structure: Asset Sale, Clean Slate
This listing is structured as a restaurant asset sale — which is increasingly how serious buyers prefer to acquire a turnkey restaurant for sale in Savannah, GA or any competitive tourism market. The buyer purchases the physical assets of the restaurant, not the operating entity. You're not assuming the seller's liabilities, debts, or employment contracts. You're acquiring the equipment, the lease rights, and the infrastructure — and you bring your concept, your brand, and your team.
This structure provides a clean start with maximum flexibility. You own the tools. You create the story.
Who This Listing Is For
Is This Turnkey Restaurant for Sale in Savannah, GA Right for You?
The Expansion Operator
If you already have a successful restaurant concept in Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, or elsewhere in the Southeast, Savannah's tourism market is a natural expansion target. This space gives you a lease-ready, infrastructure-ready foothold in the Historic District without the 12-month build-out pain.
The First-Time Operator
If you're a chef ready to open your first location, the economics here are compelling. At $149,000, the barrier to entry is dramatically lower than a comparable first-generation space, and the location does a significant amount of the marketing work for you. 12.9 million visitors a year walk this corridor.
The Seasoned Restaurateur Looking for Savannah
If you've been watching Savannah's growth and waiting for the right location, this is it. Prime Historic District addresses in the Broughton/Whitaker corridor rarely come available as asset sales at this price.
Savannah's Demographic Profile: Built for Restaurants
Beyond the tourism numbers, the residential profile of Downtown Savannah amplifies the opportunity. The downtown area has a median age of just 27 years old — one of the youngest demographic profiles of any major historic district in the country. SCAD brings thousands of students, faculty, and visiting families into the dining ecosystem year-round.
Approximately 64.7% of downtown residents are renters, and 29.5% of the population falls between 15 and 24 years old, with another 27.9% between 25 and 44. These are the demographics that drive dining frequency. Pair that with 18,767+ hotel rooms in the Savannah market — many within walking distance — and you have a dual-engine demand model: locals who dine regularly and tourists who dine constantly.
Location Is the First Ingredient
As a former chef and restaurateur who operated five Jimmy'z Kitchen locations across Miami and Atlanta, I've always said that the best menu in the world won't save a bad location — but a great location will forgive a lot of early growing pains while you find your rhythm. This location has everything.
Walk Score of 97. Sandwiched between Broughton and River Street. 12.9 million annual visitors. A young resident base hungry for dining experiences. Infrastructure already in place. Lease with up to 9 years of options. Asking price of $149,000. If you've been searching for a turnkey restaurant for sale in Savannah, GA, this is the one that checks every box.
This is what we mean when we say: Location, Location, Location!
Frequently Asked Questions: Turnkey Restaurant for Sale in Savannah, GA
Real questions from real buyers — answered directly by Jimmy Carey, Atlanta's Premier Restaurant Broker.
Q: Why should I pay for a turnkey restaurant instead of building my own from scratch?
A: Because time is money, and a build-out will cost you both — far more than most buyers anticipate going in. When you acquire a turnkey restaurant for sale in Savannah, GA like this one, you're not just buying equipment. You're buying a fully permitted, code-compliant, operational kitchen with a 16-foot hood, a grease trap, newly built bathrooms, and established lease rights — all in a prime Historic District location that took years to secure.
Building that infrastructure from scratch runs between $500,000 and $1,000,000 all-in, and takes 6 to 15 months before you serve your first customer. This asset sale is priced at $149,000. The math isn't close. For a full breakdown of what a ground-up build-out actually costs, read our Restaurant Startup Costs: A Comprehensive Guide.
Q: Can I get more time on the lease or negotiate an extension?
A: Lease term is always a negotiation, and the answer depends entirely on the landlord. What I can tell you is that this space already comes with a 3 + 3 option structure — meaning up to 7+ years of remaining term when all options are exercised. That's significant stability for a Historic District address. For a qualified operator with a strong concept and solid financials, landlords in Savannah's tourism corridor are generally motivated to keep productive restaurant tenants.
Additional options or term extensions are absolutely worth putting on the table during the LOI and lease negotiation phase — and that's exactly the kind of conversation our team handles on your behalf.
Q: Why is this listing confidential? What does that mean for me as a buyer?
A: Confidentiality protects everyone involved — the seller, the employees, the suppliers, and ultimately you as the buyer. When a restaurant hits the open market with its name and address publicly listed, it can trigger staff departures, supplier uncertainty, and customer attrition before the deal even closes. None of that serves the buyer's interests.
A confidential listing means the seller's identity and address are only disclosed after you've signed an NDA and been pre-qualified. It's a standard, professional process in restaurant brokerage — and it's a sign that the seller is handling this transaction seriously and responsibly.
Q: Why do I have to show proof of funds? I'm a serious buyer.
A: I hear this question on almost every call — and I completely understand why it feels like an extra hurdle. But proof of funds protects you just as much as it protects the seller. It signals that you're a credible, qualified buyer who deserves access to sensitive business information. It also positions you to move fast when you're ready to make an offer.
In competitive situations — and prime Savannah Historic District locations do attract multiple inquiries — a pre-qualified buyer with proof of funds always wins the conversation. For a deeper explanation of exactly what's required, read Show Me the Money: Why Proof of Funds Is Crucial for Restaurant Brokers and Sellers.
Q: Is Savannah, GA a good market to open a restaurant right now?
A: Savannah is one of the strongest restaurant markets in the entire Southeast right now — and the data backs that up. The city drew 12.9 million visitors in 2024, generating $4.1 billion in visitor spending. The downtown residential base has a median age of 27 — one of the youngest demographic profiles of any major historic district in the country. Tourism is year-round, not seasonal.
And with the $276 million Savannah Convention Center expansion now operational, business and group travel is accelerating alongside the traditional leisure market. For a restaurant operator, Savannah offers something rare: a market where the customer is already there, already walking, and already looking for somewhere to eat.
Q: What type of restaurant concept works best in this location?
A: Given the location — steps from West Broughton Street and a short walk from Historic River Street — this space is exceptionally well-suited for concepts that benefit from high pedestrian visibility and tourism-driven volume. Full-service dining, fast-casual concepts with a strong identity, specialty food and beverage, brunch-forward operations, and chef-driven independent restaurants all perform well in Savannah's Historic District.
The 2,000 SF footprint and full 16-foot hood give you serious flexibility across concepts. Because this is an asset sale with no brand attached, you bring your concept entirely — a blank canvas in one of the best-trafficked corridors in Georgia.
Q: Who do I contact to learn more about this confidential listing?
A: Contact the Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team directly. All inquiries are confidential. You'll be asked to complete a brief NDA and provide proof of funds before location details are disclosed. We move quickly for qualified buyers — this is a strong listing at an accessible price point in a high-demand market, and it will not sit.
Visit sellmyrestaurantatlanta.com or call us directly at (678) 406-8478 to start the conversation today.
Inquire Confidentially
This is a confidential listing. The address, business name, and seller information are not disclosed in marketing materials. All inquiries are handled through our office with a signed NDA.
If you're a qualified operator, investor, or expanding restaurateur interested in learning more, I'd welcome the conversation. The Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate Team is here to guide you through every step of the process. Visit sellmyrestaurantatlanta.com or contact our office directly for a confidential consultation.
About the Broker
With over 37 years of restaurant industry experience, Jimmy Carey has owned and operated five successful restaurants, including the acclaimed Jimmy’z Kitchen in Miami and Atlanta. As a credentialed member of the IBBA and GABB, and a Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers affiliate, this firsthand expertise as a former chef and operator makes him Atlanta’s Premier Restaurant Broker, uniquely positioned to understand both sides of every transaction — from kitchen operations to commercial lease negotiations and business valuations.
Stay connected with Jimmy through Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for daily market insights, new listings, and industry trends. Subscribe to his YouTube channel for in-depth market analysis and selling strategies, and follow him on X/Twitter for real-time updates on Atlanta’s restaurant transaction market.
Read reviews from satisfied clients on his Google Business Profile. If you’re ready to sell your restaurant, visit Sell My Restaurant Atlanta for a confidential consultation and market analysis. Learn more about Jimmy’s professional credentials through his IBBA broker profile and GABB member, or explore his full range of services at Jimmy Carey Commercial Real Estate.
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This listing is confidential. Name, address, and identifying details are withheld in all marketing materials. Interested parties must sign a confidentiality agreement prior to disclosure of location details. All information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Buyer to verify all details.
Serious Inquiries Only – Proof Of Funds and NDA Required. Contact Us Today to Learn More!
CONFIDENTIAL LISTING! - DO NOT MAKE CONTACT with Employees, Clients or Owners.
FINANCIALS, BOOKS & RECORDS are NOT included in this ASSET SALE.