Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, a Colorado-based fast casual restaurant concept featuring fresh and healthy Mediterranean cuisine, today announced the grand opening of its second Oklahoma franchise location Saturday, April 6 at 1389 E. 15th Street in Edmond, Okla. This is the company’s milestone 20thlocation to open to date and the fifth outside Colorado.
The Edmond restaurant joins the original Oklahoma location at 4130 Northwest Expressway, which opened in November 2012. Both are owned and operated by Garbanzo franchisee GMG Oklahoma, LLC, which has the rights to develop up to 10 locations in the state.
“We are very pleased to see the concept’s growth and popularity in the Oklahoma City area,” says Bob Bafundo, Garbanzo vice president of company and franchise operations. “Residents have welcomed us to the community and shown such tremendous support. The word is traveling fast throughout Oklahoma City, and we are working hard to bring additional Garbanzo locations to more areas of the region.”
“Accomplishing the exciting landmark of our 20th location seems a bit surreal but also extremely motivating,” says Alon Mor, Garbanzo founder, president and CEO. “Now we have our sights set on the 30th, 40th and 50th Garbanzo. We are moving rapidly to achieve those goals and realize substantial nationwide growth over the next few years.”
For more information on the Edmond Garbanzo opening, visit the Garbanzo Oklahoma City Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GarbanzoOKC.
Garbanzo offers guests a variety of authentic Mediterranean items with an emphasis on flavor, freshness and quality, as well as a healthy trans-fat free menu. Guests have the ability to customize every meal with items such as pita, laffa, falafel, shwarma, hummus, seasoned rice, sauces and dressings. All Garbanzo salads and sauces are prepared on-site daily, and the pita are made from scratch throughout the day in every restaurant. Additionally, several ingredients are bought locally and some are imported directly from the Mediterranean region. For more information about Garbanzo, visit www.EatGarbanzo.com.
GMG Oklahoma was founded by Ed Lynn, a Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar franchisee since 2004. He currently owns stores in Oklahoma City, Enid and Muskogee, Okla. Prior to entering the restaurant business, Lynn spent 14 years as a Choice Hotels franchisee, operating nine hotels in Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas. He spent his early career with Henderson Properties, Inc. on their real estate development staff. He is a member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association and sits on the Oklahoma Convention and Visitors Commission.
For more information about GMG Oklahoma-owned Garbanzo restaurants, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GarbanzoOKC.
Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill is owned and operated in Colorado. The company’s founder, Alon Mor, grew up in the Mediterranean region and is a 20-year veteran of owning and running restaurants. St. Louis Bread Company/Panera Bread founder Ken Rosenthal is also co-founder of the company. Garbanzo uses only the freshest, quality ingredients for its made-from-scratch recipes, and provides several vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
Garbanzo currently has 20 company- and franchisee-owned locations nationwide with new markets continuously opening across the country. To learn more about Garbanzo, visit www.EatGarbanzo.com, www.facebook.com/GarbanzoMedGrill or www.twitter.com/GarbanzoGrill.
