Thursday, October 28, 2010

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.

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)

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)