Fast-Growing Greek Chain Broadens Western Footprint with 61st Golden State Location
San Jose, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Nick the Greek, a West Coast-based chain serving up authentic Greek street food, is excited to announce the opening of its Santa Barbara, California, location. The new location is owned and operated by restaurant industry veterans Niko Heliotis and brothers Dimitri and Panayioti Trembois. The new Santa Barbara restaurant grows the brand’s presence in Southern California to 15 locations and expands Nick the Greek’s footprint throughout the West. The opening comes as Nick the Greek is on pace to open 25 more restaurants this year, approaching 100 locations systemwide by the end of 2024.
“We’re extremely proud to bring Nick the Greek to Santa Barbara’s lively downtown area after experiencing firsthand how much the community enjoys the high-quality Greek food,” said Heliotis. “Drawing on an outlook shaped by a combined 20+ years in the restaurant industry, we’re confident guests will appreciate the welcoming restaurant environment that’s a natural part of every Nick the Greek location.”
Established in 2014 by cousins Big Nick, Little Nick, and Baby Nick Tsigaris – all named after their grandfather per Greek tradition – Nick the Greek satisfies the desire for healthy, flavorful and authentic Greek cuisine in a fast casual environment without compromising quality. Drawing from two generations of restaurant entrepreneurship and countless visits to Greece, the street food-inspired menu boasts flavorful gyro meats cooked in-house on a traditional vertical rotisserie, charbroiled souvlaki skewers, zesty sauces, fresh vegetables and authentic Greek treats including baklava and loukoumades. In meeting the high demand for Greek street food, Nick the Greek has carved out a niche in the ultra-competitive fast casual space – a differentiator that has proven to be critical to the brand’s rapid growth.
Celebrating a decade in business in 2024, Nick the Greek has greatly accelerated expansion efforts over the last three years, adding dozens of new locations and increasing store count by nearly 100 percent. Today, guests can find Nick the Greek restaurants throughout seven states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Utah, and the chain is on pace to surpass 90 restaurants before year’s end. By strategically establishing locations in high-visibility downtown metro areas, Nick the Greek has reached large audiences and steadily developed a diverse and devoted fan base. The brand has identified key markets throughout the Western U.S. and is seeking franchise partners interested in expanding their portfolios with a progressive fast casual brand on the rise.
Nick the Greek’s Santa Barbara restaurant is located at 508 State St. and can be reached by telephone at (805) 902-4976. The restaurant is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. For additional information about Nick the Greek, visit NickTheGreek.com.
About Nick the Greek
Founded in 2014 by three cousins – Big Nick, Little Nick and Baby Nick Tsigaris, all named after their grandfather per Greek tradition, Nick the Greek is a family-friendly fast casual restaurant offering authentic Greek street food. Specializing in gyros and souvlaki, the menu features flavorful rotisserie meats, charbroiled skewers, zesty sauces and the freshest vegetables. The brand boasts 70 locations throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, and Kansas, with dozens more in the works across the Western United States. With streamlined operations, a menu focused on quality, sleek restaurant design and high consumer demand for fresh, authentic Greek flavors, Nick the Greek is primed for expansion over the next several years. For more information, visit NickTheGreek.com.
About YTG Enterprises, LLC
YTG Enterprises was founded by Anil Yadav, an experienced, multi-brand franchisee. YTG acquired Nick the Greek in late 2022, joining its existing portfolio comprised of Jack in the Box TGI Fridays, Denny’s and popular Texas-based Tex-Mex chain, Taco Cabana.
Media Contact:
Selena Lane
Powerhouse+Co.
selena@powerhouseandco.com
