Tribe Square restaurants now on William and Mary meal plan

Pita Pit were recently featured in the Virginia Gazette about a deal being reached to add businesses in the Tribe Square complex to the College of William & Mary's meal plan. The article starts by going into details about the restaurants in the Tribe Square complex not being included in the College of William and Mary's student meal plan and the impact that has had on business. Click here to read the entire article or begin below.

"Tribe Square restaurants now on William and Mary meal plan"
By Steve Vaughan

WILLIAMSBURG - Ending nearly a year of uncertainty in which they feared for the future of their businesses, the four restaurants in Tribe Square adjacent to the campus will be allowed to participate in the college's expanded student meal plan.

When the new policy was adopted, it mandated participation in the plan for on-campus students and and that they use the meal plan for a majority of their meals - the restaurants saw their business fall off steeply last fall.

"We were down almost 50 percent," said Pita Pit Owner Kimberly Twine.

Click here to read the entire article.

Pita Pit in the Virginia Gazette

Pita Pit in the Virginia Gazette in an article titled, "Tribe Square restaurants blame college for sales slump." The article gives some details about the mandatory meal plan and the impact that it’s having on Pita Pit and other restaurants in the area. The article includes several quotes from Kim Twine about the decline in sales they’ve seen, what they’re doing to try and work with The College of William and Mary, and the need for support from the community. The article also includes several quotes from a spokesman with the college about the situation. The article concludes with information that the restaurants are working with The College of William and Mary about inclusion in the plan, and the support of students to help them stay in business.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Tribe Square restaurants blame college for sales slump

By: Steve Vaughn

WILLIAMSBURG — Owners of the four restaurants in Tribe Square are worried the college's expanded mandatory meal plan is going to drive them out of business. 

"Our sales are down 30 percent," said Kimberly Twine, one of the owners of the Pita Pit. "I'm afraid we're going to have to go out of business."

One of the four restaurants, The Crust, went up for sale on Friday. Twine said the other two, Subway and Mooyah!, are also suffering.

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Pita Pit featured on PilotOnline.com

Pita Pit featured on PilotOnline.com in an article titled, "Pita Pit, EmbroidMe franchises are open." The article explains Jake and Buzz Crown’s opening of their second location which is in Norfolk, VA., on Sept. 25. It also gives insight into the launch of the first Pita Pit food truck in the brand’s history in early of last year. Click here for the entire article or see below.

Pita Pit, EmbroidMe franchises are open
By: Philip Walzer

Two franchises – one offering food, the other embroidered products – have opened in Hampton Roads.

Pita Pit opened Wednesday at 1501 Colley Ave. in the Ghent section of Norfolk. It is run by Jake Crown and his father, Buzz, who launched the first Pita Pit food truck earlier this year, outside the Norfolk Naval Station.

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Pita Pit featured in the Inside Business: The Hampton Roads Business Journal

Pita Pit featured in the Inside Business: The Hampton Roads Business Journal in an article titled, "
Pita truck team getting Ghent storefront."The article discusses the upcoming opening of Pita Pit in Norfolk, VA. The location will be opened by father and son team, Buzz and Jake Crown, who also own the food truck location at the Norfolk Navy base. Jake discusses the plans to open two more locations in Hampton Roads within the next two years. Corey Bowan, Vice President of Franchise Growth, discusses the brand and how it appeals as a healthier option.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Pita truck team getting Ghent storefront

By: Lydia Wheeler

Pita Pit is coming to Colley Avenue.

The fast-casual sandwich franchise, owned by father and son team Buzz and Jake Crown, is expected to open next to Chipotle Mexican Grill at 1501 Colley Ave. in September.

(Read More)

Pita Pit featured in College of William and Mary's The Flat Hat

Pita Pit was recently featured in College of William and Mary's The Flat Hat in an article titled, "Williamsburg Pita Pit Offers Free Pitas After Competition." The article begins with a rousing endorsement from W&M class of ‘14’s Emmy Newcomb who raved about the “melt-y chocolate chip cookie” she received and gave the experience “two thumbs up!” The article discusses how Williamsburg won the “Battle of the Pita Pits” competition. Pita Pit Founder Nelson Lang is quoted several times praising the work of those at the Williamsburg location.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Williamsburg Pita Pit Offers Free Pitas After Competition
By: Ariel Cohen

By 6 p.m. Thursday the Williamsburg Pita Pit staff had rolled over 1,000 pitas, and the dinner rush was just starting.

“I waited in line for a little over an hour for a pita, but it was totally worth it,” Emmy Newcomb ’14 said. “They gave out free Pita Pit sunglasses and a melt-y chocolate chip cookie. I’d give the experience two thumbs up!”

Even though Williamsburg is one of the franchise’s smaller locations, students voted online to win the Battle of the Pita Pits competition, resulting in a free day of pitas for all members of the Tribe. The Williamsburg Pita Pit beat out hundreds of Pita Pit locations to win.

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Pita Pit featured in The Virginia Gazette

Pita Pit was recently featured in The Virginia Gazette in an article titled, "Battle of the Pita Pits."  The article talks about how busy it was in Williamsburg for the free pita event. Nelson Lang is quoted, saying he thinks he was rolling two or three pitas an hour. The article goes on to talk about the grassroots efforts of Brandon and Kimberly Twine to drum up votes during the “Battle Of The Pita Pits” competition and their final epic victory. The article ends with an estimation that roughly 1500 people were expected to show up for a free pita.

Battle of the Pita Pits
By: Taryn Rothstein




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Pita Pit Featured in the Virginia Gazette

Pita Pit was recently featured in the Virginia Gazette in an article titled, "Pita Pit reigns supreme."  The article talks about how Williamsburg’s Pita Pit location won the “Battle Of The Pita Pits” competition. It includes the interesting tidbit that the Williamsburg location is tough to find due to Williamsburg’s sign ordinance. It also includes information about the big celebration party where they’ll be giving away free pitas all day to all customers.  Click here for the entire article or begin below.

Pita Pit reigns supreme
By: Steve Vaughn

WILLIAMSBURG– The Tribe Square Pita Pit reigns supreme.

The local eatery beat every other Pita Pit in the country in a social media contest for the most "likes" on Pita Pit's Facebook page. The Williamsburg franchise, owned by Brandon and Kim Twine, won over a lot of restaurants in much bigger cities.

The final margin was as thin as a pita. Kim Twine said Tuesday that Williamsburg edged Claremont, Calif., by 42 votes.

(Read More)

Pita Pit was featured in the Daily Press

Pita Pit was recently featured in the Daily Press in an article titled, "Economy not always to blame for recent Hampton Roads restaurant closings." The article is about how restaurants in the Hamptons Road area have suffered financially in the wake of the difficult economic times. Peter Riggs, VP of Brand Development for Pita Pit, discussed the fact that because consumers now have less disposable income, they are being more careful with their restaurant choices and may pass on higher-priced restaurants altogether. The article also mentions that Pita Pit had an opening in Williamsburg last month. Click here to view the entire article.

Economy not always to blame for recent Hampton Roads restaurant closings
By: David Nicholson


Several recent restaurant closings suggest that the Hampton Roads economy is still shaky. But analysts and restaurant owners say that other factors also play into the often unpredictable restaurant scene.

In the past week, Frank Beamer's American Grill and JoJack's Espresso Bar & Café closed at Peninsula Town Center, while Jefferson Commons in Newport News lost the Silver Diner. Locations of the Silver Diner in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach also have closed.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Tiffani Morrel of Pita Pit Glen Allen, VA

Today we are highlighting Tiffani Morrel in our franchisee profile. Tiffani is the franchisee of the Glen Allen, VA Pita Pit and has been a Pita Pit franchisee since April of 2009.

Location: 4040 Cox Rd., Glen Allen, VA 23060


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Tiffani’s Story…
Tiffani Morrel has been in the restaurant business since she was a teenager. Throughout her career she has moved up in the ranks from a waitress to a manager and now she is a restaurant owner of the Pita Pit. When looking for a new venture in the restaurant industry, Morrel and her husband, Norman, came across an opportunity to own an established franchise location in Glen Allen. The Morrel’s quickly jumped at the chance and now are part of a growing national healthy fast food franchise, with plans to expand the brand throughout Virginia.

Community Involvement…
Although the restaurant has only been under the Morrel’s ownership for less than a year, the Glen Allen location partakes in sponsorships and donations to local community groups, especially the local schools.

Family Involvement...
Tiffani and her husband, Norman, have a 4-year old girl named Gabriella. Norman Morrel is still involved in a career in computers, but helps out in the Pita Pit location as much as possible.