Growing chain continues metro expansion
Birmingham, Alabama-based Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe plans to end 2015 with six units in metro Atlanta with the possibility of adding another six in the coming years. The fast casual chain entered metro Atlanta in 2012 with a location in Sandy Springs at the "Glenridge Springs" development, near the Haverty's building. Taziki's added a location on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta in late 2013. Last spring the chain opened in Athens in the Bottleworks on Prince Avenue.
Birmingham, Alabama-based Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe plans to end 2015 with six units in metro Atlanta with the possibility of adding another six in the coming years. The fast casual chain entered metro Atlanta in 2012 with a location in Sandy Springs at the "Glenridge Springs" development, near the Haverty's building. Taziki's added a location on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta in late 2013. Last spring the chain opened in Athens in the Bottleworks on Prince Avenue.
Today the chain opened its newest location, in Suwanee on Old Peachtree Road. Here, Taziki's joined Nashville, Tennessee-based I Love Juice Bar in a newly built center just off I-85 and adjacent to an existing Home Depot.
As I previously announced, Taziki's upcoming Decatur location will opened alongside a new outpost of Highland Bakery at 315 West Ponce de Leon Avenue. While a drive-thru I Love Juice Bar was also proposed for the property, the concept was panned by the city of Decatur and ultimately abandoned.
The sixth Georgia location of Taziki's will open in the Fashion Cafe at Lenox Square. In the Buckhead mall, the Mediterranean eatery will replace the recently shuttered Subway restaurant. In Lenox, Taziki's joins fellow fast casual operators such as Chipotle Mexican Grill and Freshii. Taziki's will hope to fill the void left by longtime Mediterranean eatery Hovan Gourmet which closed in the Fashion Cafe in late 2013.
In case you've never been, Taziki's has similarities to Zoës Kitchen, and with good reason.
Marcus & Zoe Cassimus started Zoës Kitchen in 1995, and in 1998, Keith & Amy Richards opened Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe. According to a well placed source within Zoës Kitchen, Keith Richards first approached Zoës Kitchen about opening a franchise, but after being trained, he departed and eventually opened Taziki's.
Both are fast casual restaurants featuring Mediterranean fare, and both started in Birmingham, Alabama.
Today, Zoës is headquartered in Plano, Texas, has about 150 locations in sixteen states, and as of last year is a publicly traded company. Taziki's remains based in Birmingham and has 47 open or opening locations in 14 states.
Personally, I prefer the offerings of Zoës to those of Taziki's.
Have you been to both Zoës Kitchen and Taziki's? If so, which do you prefer? Do you think Taziki's will do well in Lenox Square? What is your favorite Mediterranean dish?
Please share your thoughts below.