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.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
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.
(Read More)
Pita Pit, fresh and healthy food that's still served fastFast 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.
(Read More)
Monday, October 11, 2010
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.
(Read More)
Pita Pit Opens at the University of New HampshirePita 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.
(Read More)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Pita Pit Opens in Charleston, WV and is Featured in Charleston Daily Mail
Pita Pit was recently featured in an article about the newest Pita Pit opening in Charleston, WV in the Charleston Daily Mail. The story, “Pita Pit franchise opens in Kanawha City” profiles first-time franchise owner Pat Parker and chronicles his journey from discovering Pita Pit to opening the first Pita Pit in Charleston. It also discusses Pita Pit’s “fresh food, healthy eating” concept and attractive franchising opportunities. A portion of the article is included below and the article can be read in its entirety by clicking here.
Pita Pit franchise opens in Kanawha City
by Monica Orosz
When Pat Parker and his wife lived in Huntington, they loved stopping at the Pita Pit for lunch.
When their jobs - his as a financial planner for Merrill Lynch, hers as a physician for Charleston Area Medical Center - brought them to Charleston, they lamented the loss of their favorite sandwiches, tucked into bread that is baked like a pocket to hold the ingredients.
And then they did something about it.
Wednesday, Parker opened the state's third Pita Pit franchise in Kanawha City, at 4222 MacCorkle Ave. The concept is "fresh thinking, healthy eating," and the menu includes everything from breakfast pitas with eggs and sausage to cold cuts, steak, Mediterranean beef and falafel, made with chickpeas and spice.
Toppings include standards such as lettuce and tomato and the more unusual such as hummus and babaganoush, which is made with eggplant. There are 16 sauces, including tzatziki with yogurt and cucumber; mustard; and ancho chipotle. Sandwiches range from $4 to $6.
Already by lunchtime at Wednesday's soft opening, the restaurant was hopping.
"For me, it wasn't a money-driven thing," said Parker. Not that he wants to throw money down the tubes - he says the investment was a carefully thought-out one.
And the Pita Pit, which began in 1995 in Canada and now has 300 stores in North America, is pretty picky about its franchisees, too.
"Before they'd even accept us, we had to go to their headquarters in Coer d'Alene, Idaho, for a 'discovery day.'"
During that day, Pita Pit officials lay out the requirements for a franchise and interview the potential franchisee.
(Read More)
Pita Pit franchise opens in Kanawha Cityby Monica Orosz
When Pat Parker and his wife lived in Huntington, they loved stopping at the Pita Pit for lunch.
When their jobs - his as a financial planner for Merrill Lynch, hers as a physician for Charleston Area Medical Center - brought them to Charleston, they lamented the loss of their favorite sandwiches, tucked into bread that is baked like a pocket to hold the ingredients.
And then they did something about it.
Wednesday, Parker opened the state's third Pita Pit franchise in Kanawha City, at 4222 MacCorkle Ave. The concept is "fresh thinking, healthy eating," and the menu includes everything from breakfast pitas with eggs and sausage to cold cuts, steak, Mediterranean beef and falafel, made with chickpeas and spice.
Toppings include standards such as lettuce and tomato and the more unusual such as hummus and babaganoush, which is made with eggplant. There are 16 sauces, including tzatziki with yogurt and cucumber; mustard; and ancho chipotle. Sandwiches range from $4 to $6.
Already by lunchtime at Wednesday's soft opening, the restaurant was hopping.
"For me, it wasn't a money-driven thing," said Parker. Not that he wants to throw money down the tubes - he says the investment was a carefully thought-out one.
And the Pita Pit, which began in 1995 in Canada and now has 300 stores in North America, is pretty picky about its franchisees, too.
"Before they'd even accept us, we had to go to their headquarters in Coer d'Alene, Idaho, for a 'discovery day.'"
During that day, Pita Pit officials lay out the requirements for a franchise and interview the potential franchisee.
(Read More)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Pita Pit Opens in Lancaster, PA and is Featured in the Intelligencer Journal
The Intelligencer Journal recently published an article about the new Pita Pit opening today in Lancaster, PA. The article, entitled, “The Pita Pit arrives here,” also has photos of the new store built from a photo shoot set up with Pita Pit owner Nathan Groff. The piece announces Pita Pit’s arrival to the city and can be found below, and the original article can be found by clicking here.
The Pita Pit arrives here
By Chad Umble
The Pita Pit, which features Lebanese-style pitas, is opening Wednesday in Champion Forge Center, 398 Harrisburg Ave. It is next to Sukhothai Restaurant in Suite 500.
The Pita Pit's menu has sandwiches with a number of meat and vegetable fillings and a variety of toppings, including souvlaki, gyros and falafel sandwiches. It also offers salads and smoothies. It features takeout food, but also will have seating for 12.
The Pita Pit is a franchise that began in Canada in 1995 and now has more than 100 locations there and almost 200 in the United States. This is the first one in Lancaster County. Owners are Brad Alexander and Nathan Groff.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Phone: 517-7111.
(Read More)
The Pita Pit arrives hereBy Chad Umble
The Pita Pit, which features Lebanese-style pitas, is opening Wednesday in Champion Forge Center, 398 Harrisburg Ave. It is next to Sukhothai Restaurant in Suite 500.
The Pita Pit's menu has sandwiches with a number of meat and vegetable fillings and a variety of toppings, including souvlaki, gyros and falafel sandwiches. It also offers salads and smoothies. It features takeout food, but also will have seating for 12.
The Pita Pit is a franchise that began in Canada in 1995 and now has more than 100 locations there and almost 200 in the United States. This is the first one in Lancaster County. Owners are Brad Alexander and Nathan Groff.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Phone: 517-7111.
(Read More)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Franchisee Profile: Bret Gibson of Pita Pit Lewiston, ID
Today we are highlighting Bret Gibson in our franchisee profile. Bret is the franchisee of the Lewiston, ID Pita Pit and is approaching his 1 year anniversary with Pita Pita as he has been a Pita Pit Franchisee since December of 2010
Location: 908 16th Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501
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How Bret Got Started with Pita Pit…
Bret Gibson learned about Pita Pit through his previous job, where he owned a flooring company. He was installing floor into a fraternity house and looking for a place to grab lunch. He stumbled across Pita Pit and gave it a try, where he said he knew instantaneously that this was a great concept that he had to be a part of. With a down economy, and the construction industry drying-up, Gibson decided he wanted a career change, “The first thing that entered my mind was Pita Pit, and the rest is history.”
Something Interesting About Bret’s Story…
Gibson is a self described entrepreneur at heart. As a child, he never was quite sure what he wanted to do, but saw and has now followed in his grandfather’s footsteps as a passionate entrepreneur, continuing in his family history. Other members of his family, brother, Derek MacArthur and friend, Geoffrey Eldridge are both involved with the Lewiston Pita Pit as its General Managers. The trio plan to continue in the development of the brand to bring this fresh concept to other areas throughout Idaho.
Community Involvement...
Gibson is definitely excited to really ingrain The Pita Pit into the Lewiston community. Besides being a part of the Chamber of Commerce, he wants to sponsor local sports teams and other community organizations.
Family Life…
Gibson and his wife, Sarah, have two children; son, Braxton,12 and daughter, Savannah,3.
Location: 908 16th Ave., Lewiston, ID 83501
View Larger Map
How Bret Got Started with Pita Pit…
Bret Gibson learned about Pita Pit through his previous job, where he owned a flooring company. He was installing floor into a fraternity house and looking for a place to grab lunch. He stumbled across Pita Pit and gave it a try, where he said he knew instantaneously that this was a great concept that he had to be a part of. With a down economy, and the construction industry drying-up, Gibson decided he wanted a career change, “The first thing that entered my mind was Pita Pit, and the rest is history.”
Something Interesting About Bret’s Story…
Gibson is a self described entrepreneur at heart. As a child, he never was quite sure what he wanted to do, but saw and has now followed in his grandfather’s footsteps as a passionate entrepreneur, continuing in his family history. Other members of his family, brother, Derek MacArthur and friend, Geoffrey Eldridge are both involved with the Lewiston Pita Pit as its General Managers. The trio plan to continue in the development of the brand to bring this fresh concept to other areas throughout Idaho.
Community Involvement...
Gibson is definitely excited to really ingrain The Pita Pit into the Lewiston community. Besides being a part of the Chamber of Commerce, he wants to sponsor local sports teams and other community organizations.
Family Life…
Gibson and his wife, Sarah, have two children; son, Braxton,12 and daughter, Savannah,3.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
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.
Location: 4040 Cox Rd., Glen Allen, VA 23060
View Larger Map
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.
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