New Pita Pit Openings This Month

It's been a great month so far for Pita Pit! This month 3 locations have been added to the over 200 other US locations, and another is set to open by the end of the month. The new locations are located in:

Ann Arbor, MI
Lehigh Valley, PA
Melbourne, FL
St. Louis, MO - coming soon!

Look out for these new Pita Pit locations as well as many more that will be opening soon!

Pita Pit Participates in Dine Out, No Kid Hungry

We are excited to share the news that we are participating in Share Our Strength's Dine Out for No Kid Hungry!

Share Our Strength is a national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. They weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch every at-risk child.

Share Our Strength has many ways to help raise funds and donate, but Pita Pit is participating specifically in Dine Out for No Kid Hungry. Dine Out is a national event that brings together thousands of restaurants and millions of consumers to help make sure no child in America grows up hungry with the hopes of ending childhood hunger by 2015.

Dine Out for No Kid Hungry occurs one week every year. This year it is being held September 18-24, 2011. However, Pita Pit is hosting a month long fundraiser from Sept. 5 - Oct. 2, 2011.

During Sept. 5 - Oct. 2, participating Pita Pit locations will donate .50 cents for every fork-style (salad) sold! All of our pitas can be prepared in this fork-style option for and even healthier eating experience.

We of course will accept additional donations also! Give a buck, we'll give a buck back! Any additional donations $1.00 or more will receive a "Thank You" certificate with a $1.00 OFF your next pita coupon.

We have taken the pledge to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 and ask that all of our fans take it with us! We have made the pledge available on our Facebook fan page here. You can also view all of our 63 participating locations here.

Unwrap your usual and help end childhood hunger in America. The salad bar has been raised!

Pita Pit featured in Vancouver Business Journal

Pita Pit was featured in an article today in the Vancouver Business Journal for Dennis and Laura Sallee as they just opened their fourth Pita Pit titled, “Fresh success in a down economy.” Dennis Sallee discusses the success that he and Laura have found in the Vancouver market since opening their first Pita Pit in 2008 as well as the healthy, customizable food options that Pita Pit makes that are perfect for everyone. In addition, Dennis and Laura are only the second Pita Pit in the 300-plus unit franchise that has the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine that provides over 100 different drink choices. Click here to view the full article.

Fresh success in a down economy

By: Jodie Gilmore

Give the customer what they want and watch every penny – this is the bread and butter of Dennis Sallee’s success with the Vancouver-area Pita Pit restaurants he co-owns with his wife, Laura.

The Sallees have opened three additional Pita Pits since their first in Fisher’s Landing in 2008: one in Hazel Dell, one in Orchards and one in Ashland, Oregon. Sallee hopes to open “at least two more” Pita Pits in the Vancouver area – possibly at the Westfield Shopping Mall as well as a mobile unit.

Sallee said he would choose his locations carefully, because “it takes three daily rushes to make one of these work” (lunch, dinner and catered platters of sliced pita sandwiches).

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Richard Gross, Franchisee of Saucon Valley & Lehigh Valley, PA

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Opening Date: August 4, 2011

Location: Saucon Valley & Lehigh Valley, PA

Q: Where are you from?

A: Although I transferred to the Bethlehem PA area in 1992, I’m originally from Chicago and have been in Boca Raton Florida sing 2007. My son, Matt, actually runs the Pennsylvania stores. My other son works for Intel.

Q: What was your career before franchising?

A: In addition to assisting my son with the Pita Pit locations, I’m also the Chief Financial Officer for Mori Lee, a bridal company.

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?

A: I decided to help my son open his own business because he was passionate about being an entrepreneur after graduating from Penn State. When I asked him what he wanted to do with his education, he informed me that he wanted to open a Pita Pit restaurant. He chose a great location, so we decided to go for it.

Q: When choosing a franchise, what were the criteria you used to make your decision?

A: Because my son loved the food so much, he knew he wanted to be a part of the Pita Pit team.

Q: What was appealing to you about joining a franchise system?

A: Joining a franchise system was appealing to Matt and me because systems are already in place and it allows for better profits due to buying power. There’s absolutely no way you can get such attractive prices on your own, simply because you don’t have the purchasing power. However, the franchise system allowed us to utilize the franchise’s buying power to its fullest.

Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?

A: With extensive experience as a Chief Financial Officer, my ability to watch and know numbers has helped tremendously. I’m able to reconcile monetary transactions and monitor food and labor costs immeditaltey and can identify wehn soemthing is not going correctly.

Q: What makes your business different?

A: Our business is different because of the quality and quantity of food Pita Pit provides. It makes people happy.

Q: What are your expansion or development plans?

A: Approximately six months after the upcoming opening in the Lehigh Valley Mall, I hope to begin working with the Simon in the King of Prussia Mall. Our goal is to open a location in the mall’s food court in order to gain high foot traffic. If we do well, the sky’s the limit with Simon mall openings! When it’s all said and done, we’re hoping to have four or five Pita Pit locations.

ABOUT PITA PIT

Founded in 1995 in Ontario, Canada, The Pita Pit was a fast food restaurant with a new and unique approach. The goal was to offer quality, healthy, fresh food fast. Realizing great success, franchising began across Canada in 1997. Franchising in the United States began in 1999, and Pita Pit Inc. was formed. The first US store opened at Syracuse University and the second near the University of Idaho. In April 2005, Pita Pit Inc. was acquired by Idaho-based Pita Pit USA, Inc.. The Pita Pit concept now boasts 300 stores in North America, and is recognized as No. 1 in its category in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500. The Pita Pit connects healthy food with people seeking alternatives to the typical fast food choices. Pita Pit’s motto is “fresh thinking – healthy eating”, and features a menu based on the customer’s choice of grilled meats, fresh vegetables, zesty sauces, and a pita rolled into a unique and convenient package. Pita Pit Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho-based Pita Pit USA, Inc. For more information about The Pita Pit, visit www.pitapitusa.com.

Pita Pit featured on AnnArbor.com

Pita Pit was recently featured on AnnArbor.com welcoming Pita Pit to the Ann Arbor market under the direction of franchisee, Kay Miller. The article was titled, “Pita Pit to open new downtown Ann Arbor restaurant today,” and discusses all of the great things that Pita Pit brings to the market including fresh, healthy and quick food options for local businesses as well as students. Also, the new Pita Pit will offer delivery and have plans to stay open until 4 a.m. every night. In an environment like Ann Arbor, Kay believe that Pita Pit will fit in well because of the progressive nature of the city looking for both environmentally and health conscious food choices. The restaurant opened just in time for the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair. Click here to view the full article!

Pita Pit to open new downtown Ann Arbor restaurant today

By Lizzy Alfs

A Mediterranean-style restaurant chain called Pita Pit is opening a restaurant near the University of Michigan campus today, just in time for the Ann Arbor Art Fair.The restaurant is located at 615 East University Avenue between Mia Za’s Cafe and Lucky Kitchen Chinese restaurant.

The Pita Pit, located at 615 East University Avenue, is set to open today in downtown Ann Arbor.

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