Pita Pit featured in Jacksonville Business Journal

Pita Pit was recently featured in an article in the Jacksonville Business Journal entitled, “Communication Key to Good Time-Off Policy.” The article was built from an in-depth interview and photo-shoot with Daniel DeLeon, Pita Pit’s Fleming Island Franchisee, where he is interviewed as an expert source on giving time off during the holidays. DeLeon provides his advice on the topic and shares his experiences as a local business owner. In addition the article delves into his background and history with the Pita Pit brand. To view the article in its entirety be sure to click here.

Communication key to good time-off policy
by DOLLY PENLAND

Scheduling time off around the holidays can be a challenge, but business owners who have vacation and leave policies in place and have clearly communicated those policies to their employees can avoid conflicts and potential ill will.

“We are open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day,” said Daniel De Leon, owner of The Pita Pit restaurant in Fleming Island. “We [schedule] in rotation. And we don’t just include holidays. We include sporting events, Florida-Georgia, Florida-Florida State. So, if you are off on Florida-Georgia, you are at the bottom of the list for Christmas or New Year’s or Halloween. Our ...

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Pita Pit Featured in Creative Loafing

Pita Pit is now open for business in Decatur, GA. The Pita Pit has laid down aggressive expansion plans into the Atlanta market with over 100 locations planned throughout the metro area and provides a healthier option than fast food dining across the city. Pita Pit opened yesterday in downtown Decatur and are one step ahead of competition by offering nutrition facts of all of the products they serve. A portion of the article is included below and it can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Gravy Train: Restaurant Eugene Amps Up Talent, Pita Pit Invades Atlanta

By Laura Horton

Craft beer shop Ale Yeah! is on the verge of opening the doors in Decatur. Along with creative brews, the shop will sell brewing equipment and gourmet snacks like chesse and chocolate. Thrillist reports that Ale Yeah! will also offer homebrew classes in the near future. The shop is aiming open this coming week.

Pita Pit is now open for business in Decatur. This is the first Atlanta area location of the international chain and they are reportedly looking to bring over 100 locations to the Atlanta market as a part of their massive nationwide growth plan. That’s a whole lotta pita! Pita Pit’s spin is healthier alternative to fast food dining and they offer nutrition information on all products.

News of several other noted restaurants closing surfaced over the last week or so, including Nickiemotos and Vickerys in Midtown, Il Mulino downtown and Dynamic Dish on Edgewood.

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Pita Pit Opens in Decatur, GA; Featured in Decatur Metro

The Pita Pit in Decatur opened today, December 2, 2010 and was featured on the Decatur Metro, local site for community news. Long time Pita fan, Derek Kellermann and Hose Divani, after two years of looking for the perfect location opened the Pita Pit in Decatur to bring healthy options to an area that is physically active and health conscious. In addition, Decatur provided the perfect location close to Emory University and Agnes Scott College to offer affordable food choices all day long. The Pita Pit will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. is delivering throughout the area to reach both campuses and residential neighborhoods. Below is a portion of the article and it can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

More Sandwich/Pita News

So I know people have been worrying/asking about Jimmy John’s and the announced plan to open in the old Tastings space at 330 West Ponce. I’m still waiting on further details, but sources say that the plan is still “a go” and the sandwich shop will most likely open early next year. More details once we have them!

Also, as we announced earlier this week, Pita Pit opens today. This morning I received some additional background info on Decatur’s newest pita place…

The development is led by local entrepreneurs Hose Divani and Derek Kellermann, who noticed the healthy aspects of the Decatur markets were largely missing a healthy late night food options and ultimately led to the decision to open the Pita Pit in Downtown Decatur.

Finding two schools in relatively close proximity to one of the most physically active towns in the Atlanta metropolis, Derek Kellermann and Hose Divani finally settled on a location after nearly two years of searching for the perfect spot. Derek, a long time fan of the Pita Pit first creating the relationship in college in Manhattan, Kansas was always looking for fresh, healthy, quick and most of all affordable food choices that were appealing to those who were both physically active and those looking for a healthy fast food option. As they were both looking for a new business venture, Derek instantly began persuading Hose to pursue the Pita Pit concept, bringing a healthy, fast and fresh eating concept to Atlanta and searching for a college campus that would love the pita concept.

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Pita Pit franchisee featured in Union-Bulletin

Pita Pit’s Walla Walla franchisee, Chad Walder, was recently featured in the Union-Bulletin discussing his new business venture in addition to opening the Pita Pit. Walder, who grew up in Walla Walla, is a multi-faceted entrepreneur and introduced the Pita Pit to his local community. Walder felt that a healthy, fresh concept like Pita Pit would be a great addition to Walla Walla. Now Walder has partnered to open a Marcy’s directly next to the Pita Pit. Pita Pit, with over 180 locations throughout the U.S. is continuing to strengthen its presence in college towns and cities throughout the country. Below you can find a portion of the story and can find the full story here.

Chad Walder Credits Pita Pit as Stepping Stone to Entrepreneurial Glory

A long-ago gas station has become a new spot for spirits in a blend of old and new on downtown's Colville Street.

In the reframed walls of what was formerly Luscious by Nature, black-and-white framed photos pay tribute to the old Union 76 service station started at that corner by J. Milo Marcy. Now instead of air compressors, the sound coming from the building is more likely to be clinking ice cubes rumbling in a shaker.

The station pumps from the 1930s-era building were removed years ago, and the building over the years had been home to numerous other businesses, the tribute to the old "Marcy's" is an homage to the corner's roots. And the theme couldn't be more appropriate considering the homecoming of sorts of Marcy's co-owner Chad Waldher.

An entrepreneur who opened the neighboring Pita Pit about a year ago, Waldher grew up in Walla Walla until he was 15.

His family moved away. He spent the next 15 years on the west side of the state. When the opportunity arose to open his own Pita Pit franchise, Waldher had two choices: open in the Seattle area or start a new one in Walla Walla.

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Franchisee Profile: Brad Alexander of the Lancaster, PA Pita Pit

Open Date: September 22, 2010

Location: 398 Harrisburg Ave Suite #500
Lancaster, PA 17603

Phone: 717-517-7111

Hours of Operation: Sunday – Wednesday 9am – 10pm; Thursday – Saturday 9am – 3am


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How Brad Got Started with Pita Pit…
While entertaining several franchising opportunities, including an approval with Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs, entrepreneur Brad Alexander stumbled upon Pita Pit while dining with his brother at an established Pita Pit location. There he instantly fell in love with Pita Pit’s fresh taste and overall brand concept and delved into researching franchising opportunities. Once he realized that his “good to be true” idealization of Pita Pit was not a myth, Brad partnered with friend of ten years and likeminded entrepreneur Nathan Groff to bring the first Pita Pit to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Brad’s Entrepreneurial Background…
Brad is no stranger to entrepreneurship, having started his first business at the age of 18 to finance his college education. After college, Brad continued down the entrepreneurial path and has owned and operated a handful of successful businesses in the hospitality and real estate industries, laying the foundation for his in-house leadership role at his Pita Pit location. He will be joined by partner Nathan, who has owned several martial arts studios in the past, in the day-to-day operations and the success of Pita Pit.

Note: Brad and Nathan want the focus of pitching efforts to be less about them personally and more about the business of Pita Pit.

Brad’s Plans with Pita Pit…
With Lancaster positioned between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Brad is optimistic for the city’s growth and thus, success of Pita Pit. Finding a home for his Pita Pit location in an old foundry building near the Frankin and Marshall College campus, Brad hopes to become a favorite among college students and people who love fresh and healthy foods. As he grows the brand within Lancaster he and Nathan will explore additional restaurant locations as opportunities arise.

Pita Pit Featured in The Suburbanite

The Pita Pit was featured in The Suburbanite in Akron, Ohio in an article that was entitled, “Pita Pit, fresh and healthy food that is still served fast.” The article covered the recent opening of the Pita Pit right in the heart of Akron. Franchisees of the new location, John Cavileer and Matt Mayo, have had a long relationship with the Pita Pit brand, eating there during their college years at Ohio University. After the now business partners moved to Akron, they decided to team up to open a ‘healthy concept’ that would provide fresh and healthy food options as alternatives to the normal fast-food choices. Their goal is to appeal to all demographics in Akron; from the business community during to the day and to the college students at night. The restaurant opened at 325 S. Main Street and will be open business hours until 10 p.m. through Wednesday. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, they are open until 3 a.m. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Pita Pit, fresh and healthy food that's still served fast

Fast food is the quick answer for many of today's busy families, college students and business professionals. John Sotiriadis and Nelson Lang, founders of the Canadian based, Pita Pit, wanted to create a healthy alternative to the greasy, artery clogging mess that today's Americans choose to eat.

Fresh thinking, healthy eating is the new trend, according to the Pita Pit. They rid of the heavy breads and use a lighter Lebanese-style pita. Chicken breasts and lamb are grilled upon order. The leaner meats are popular with today's college students.

The Pita Pit has been booming on college campuses across the country.

New local Pita Pit franchise co-owners John Cavileer and Matt Mayo ate at the Ohio University Pita Pit often.

“I ate there like three times a week,” Cavileer said. “On the way home from classes there is a street at OU with about 50 restaurants on it. I could have picked any of them. I just went there because I liked the food and it was reasonably priced.”

Cavileer graduated in 2004 and came to Akron to get his business masters. He wanted to bring the Pita Pit to Akron. The building next to the student housing, across from Akron Aero's Stadium was vacant.

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Pita Pit Opens on UNH Campus and is Featured in Campus Journal

Pita Pit was recently featured in the University of New Hampshire student paper, the Campus Journal, in an article entitled “Pita Pit Opens at the University of New Hampshire.” The article discusses the recent opening of Pita Pit on their very fist college campus in the United States on the UNH and not only is it the first on a college campus but it is also the first Pita Pit in the state of New Hampshire. What the Director of Dining services liked so much about the brand is it offered students the opportunity to eat healthy and affordable food options as an alternative to fast food restaurants. Since the Pita Pit opened on campus this fall, the sales at the Philbrook Café location have increased by 35.6% and the popularity of the new food options is growing rapidly across campus. A portion of the article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Pita Pit Opens at the University of New Hampshire

Pita Pit, the newest dining option at UNH, has opened in the Philbrook Café. Pita Pit will be open during the academic year Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-1 a.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.

"Pita Pit is an international franchise that offers customers a healthy and affordable alternative to fast food restaurants," says Jon Plodzik, director of Dining Services. "Pita Pit serves made-to-order, proprietary lunch and dinner pitas and salads throughout the day. This is the first Pita Pit franchise in the New Hampshire."

Official grand opening activities for the Pita Pit included several free sample days with discount coupons distributed throughout campus. Pita Pit will also feature daily promotions including specially priced combos, discounted pitas and free beverages with the purchase of any pita.

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