First Watch Deptford announces December opening. VIP preview opportunity. First Watch has announced a December 7th opening date for its all-new Deptford restaurant, located in the recently redeveloped Deptford Town Center shopping center across from the Deptford Mall. The opening date is now prominently displayed on a banner at the front of the restaurant, confirming when customers can expect the popular breakfast and brunch café to officially open its doors. (Like all restaurant opening a surprise early soft-opening is always a possibility) The restaurant is also now hiring for a variety of positions! First Watch also launched its Deptford location webpage, where customers can sign up for VIP perks that include special offers and potential invitations to a pre-opening Friends & Family event! Additional perks include a birthday buy-one-get-one-free entrée offer, a free welcome offer for creating a First Watch account, and early announcements about upcoming seasonal menu changes. First Watch Deptford - December 7 Opening 42Freeway has been following plans for the new First Watch since April 2025, when I first reported that the previously closed Deptford Center Road shopping center had been purchased, with seven new tenants already signed up! As 42Freeway readers likely know, the redeveloped shopping center is already home to Aldi, Tractor Supply, and the recently opened Nordstrom Rack. First Watch occupies a prime central location in the shopping center, positioned almost directly ahead of drivers entering from the main Deptford Center Road entrance. In my October update, which focused more on the Nordstrom Rack opening, I had an opportunity to step inside the First Watch restaurant as construction was wrapping up. It's deceptively larger than you might expect, with a combined indoor and outdoor seating capacity of approximately 140 guests. The dining room has that signature First Watch style, offering a casual and comfortable atmosphere that looks like something out of a home design magazine. One particularly clever design element is the front outdoor patio. Rather than simply placing tables outside along the sidewalk, the restaurant's front glass wall is recessed deeper into the building, creating a covered outdoor seating area beneath the existing roofline. It's not a particularly large patio, but every customer entering the restaurant will walk right past it, and I expect it will be a popular seating option throughout much of the year. Fresh Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch First Watch has developed a strong following for its elevated breakfast and lunch menu, featuring familiar favorites with creative flavors and fresh ingredients. Absolutely, you'll find eggs, pancakes, waffles and other traditional breakfast dishes, but First Watch takes those familiar items in some interesting directions. The restaurant emphasizes fresh, made-to-order meals, with no microwaves, deep fryers or heat lamps in its kitchens. First Watch restaurants are open only for breakfast and lunch, typically closing around 2:30 p.m. In the local area, First Watch already operates restaurants in Washington Township and along Sicklerville Road. The Sicklerville Road restaurant has a full liquor license, while the new Deptford location will not serve alcohol. But Deptford customers will still get the full First Watch food menu experience! When I visited the Sicklerville location for the opening, I went with the A.M. Superfoods Bowl which featured a variety of healthy but sweet ingredients including a Coconut Milk Chia Seed Pudding, Fresh Bananas and Berries and a House-made Granola. The order was also served with whole grain toast with almond butter. Now Hiring - And VIP Perks Since my last visit to Deptford about three weeks ago, First Watch has launched its dedicated Deptford location page and added several employment opportunities to its careers website. Available positions include servers, bussers, dishwashers, cooks and more. From what I can see on the First Watch careers website, it appears that the management-level positions may already have been filled. I was able to capture a photo inside the restaurant during my October visit, and I'm hoping to get another opportunity to stop in ahead of the December 7 grand opening. First Watch has opened two other nearby restaurants without inviting the 42Freeway guy in for an early preview, but I'm still hoping the third time is the charm! So First Watch, if you're reading this, don't forget to reach out to Mark at 42Freeway! I literally live in the same town, and I know plenty of local readers are excited to see what you've created. First Watch Deptford is scheduled to open December 7 at Deptford Town Center, across from the Deptford Mall. Links and location. First Watch - Deptford 1775 Deptford Center Rd Deptford, NJ 08096

"No night shifts ever": First Watch soft opening is a fresh start. New location seats more than 150, creates approximately 30 jobs and offers unlimited coffee during opening week November 7, 2026 Popular breakfast and brunch chain opens 4,000-square-foot restaurant at former IHOP location. (UCBJ) - The wait is over. First Watch (FW), the popular breakfast, brunch and lunch chain, held a soft opening this morning, Nov. 7, and will officially open its 4,000-square-foot restaurant at 1115 Interstate Drive in Cookeville on Monday, Nov. 9. The restaurant seats more than 150 guests. It all started with the surprise (to some) closure of IHOP in June, when the UCBJ reported that the restaurant would close following a $4.62 million sale of the property to Verlaine Capital. First Watch is now under a 15-year lease with three five-year options to extend, according to documents. The all-cash deal included both the property and the building. What will First Watch bring? Approximately 30 jobs and opening-week promotions, according to the company. The restaurant will also feature: * A covered patio * A chef-inspired menu * Rotating seasonal offerings Customers dining at the restaurant from Monday, Nov. 9, through Friday, Nov. 13, will receive unlimited "Project Sunrise" coffee with their meal. The restaurant will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for dine-in, pickup and delivery service. Check out the menu HERE. The Cookeville restaurant is scheduled to introduce its first seasonal menu in January 2027, according to the company. Soft opening - First Watch held a soft opening event on Saturday Nov. 7. "First Watch is widely beloved for its modern take on breakfast and brunch. Dishes are made to order using fresh ingredients in a kitchen without heat lamps, microwaves or deep fryers. In addition to familiar favorites like omelets and The Traditional, First Watch's diverse menu - which is available all day - also includes innovative dishes, such as Avocado Toast, Farmhouse Hash, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and its signature Million Dollar Bacon, as well as sandwiches and salads," according to a release by the company. The original First Watch opened in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983. The Cookeville opening comes amid significant growth for First Watch, which recently reported that second-quarter total revenues rose 15.2% to $354.7 million from $307.9 million a year earlier. Systemwide sales also rose 14.7% to $397 million. "We delivered a strong second quarter," said Chris Tomasso, CEO and president of First Watch, in the company's earnings release. UCBJ Photos.