Belly Acres expanding into Collierville

Collierville is getting a new restaurant, and it’s not another pizza or chicken eatery.

Belly Acres plans to open its second Shelby County location in the 4,125-square-foot space formerly occupied by Staks! Kitchen, Robert Sloan, partner with The Shopping Center Group, confirmed Thursday, Feb. 6. Staks closed in April. 

“There were multiple options of restaurateurs that wanted this space, and Belly Acres — in terms of a merchandising plan — checked a lot of boxes for us,” Sloan said by phone. “We are excited about the uniqueness of Belly Acres and hope they are immensely successful.”

The Collierville spot will join Regalia’s locations in Shelby County. A North Mississippi Belly Acres is expected to open in Southaven’s Silo Square in about three weeks.

“(Collierville) is a family-oriented area close to churches and schools, and that’s certainly the target market for Belly Acres,” said Cameron Maness, the restaurant’s brand ambassador.

While Collierville has other places to grab a burger, Belly Acres is unique, Maness said, due to its ingredients.

The grass-fed beef is from Home Place Pastures in Como, Mississippi. They also offer some free-range chicken from Joyce Farms in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Maness said the chicken is fresh and similar to what most steakhouses offer. Additionally, Belly Acres works to accommodate allergies, which helps it stand apart from other burger eateries, Maness said.

Before Staks, the space in Houston Levee Galleria was Kinnucan’s, an outdoor-clothing store. The breakfast restaurant was open about 10 months, making the space attractive, Maness said.

“It wasn’t worn down,” he said. “It’s really more about making it the Belly Acres brand than having to totally rehab a spot. Paint, a few different kitchen equipment pieces, and we’ll be up and going.”

Maness said he hopes to open ahead of Easter and would like a couple weeks of preparation to get everything running smoothly.

“The churches are busier that (Easter Sunday), and I think it’d be a great time to introduce Belly Acres to the Collierville market,” he said.

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