Operations

The Great Greek rolling out 3 non-traditional formats

Photo: The Great Greek

November 17, 2023

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has created three non-traditional dining formats, including a to-go-only restaurant, a digital kitchen and special venue buildouts designed for airports, universities and stadiums.

"The development of our three new non-traditional formats began almost two years ago as we sought to identify changes in the habits and behaviors of our customers," Bob Andersen, president of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, said in a company press release. "Guest satisfaction has always been paramount to us, so we wanted to implement innovations that enhanced their overall experience while driving sales and profitability for our franchise owners,". "The new formats combine the best of both worlds for our brand; they offer the convenience of on-the-go dining for our customers while also giving existing and prospective franchise owners the opportunity to more cost-effectively seize opportunities in prime areas while capturing more market share and increasing brand exposure."

In addition to the convenience of off-premises dining, The Great Greek's non-traditional formats will expand the brand's delivery and catering capabilities. They include:

• The Great Greek To Go: Guests may quickly pick up a meal in busy retail and shopping areas. Compared to The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill's standard 30-45-seat, 1,700-2,000-square-foot dine-in model, it features a footprint between 500 and 900 square feet with a service counter and minimal to no indoor seating. The first Great Greek To Go opened last month at 8900 Baltimore Ave., in College Park, Maryland.
• The Great Greek Digital Kitchen: Diners may order online through the restaurant website or a third-party delivery platform and have their food delivered or pick it up themselves from the Digital Kitchen location. Spaces are between 190 and 220 square feet. The first Great Greek Digital Kitchen is set to launch this month in Miami. Additional locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles and San Diego will open before the end of 2023.
• Special Venues: Restaurants may range from 500 to 1,000 square feet and offer a service counter with optional communal seating, depending on the space. Rollout is slated for 2024.

The new formats arrive during the brand's most successful year in company history. Year-to-date, it has signed 27 franchise agreements and opened 15 restaurants with 10 more projected to open before the end of the year, including five non-traditional locations.

"2023 has been a milestone year for our brand in terms of growth and we plan to leverage the momentum we've achieved this year into 2024 as we offer these new formats to both new and existing franchisees. The best is yet to come," Andersen said.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, which is a part of the Big Flavor Brands foodservice division of Starpoint Brands, was founded in 2011 by two third-generation culinary-trained restaurateurs and offers a variety of customizable options, including a Classic Greek Salad with choice of Gyro Meat, Salmon or several other protein choices. Guests may also order desserts, including Baklava Ice Cream and Rice Pudding.