Popular fast-casual brand backed by Michael Staenberg to serve ‘love in every pita’ beginning this summer
Two proud St. Louis natives want to share the healthiest food on the planet with the city they love.
Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh – the leading Mediterranean cuisine brand renowned for its focus on delicious and nutritious meals – fresh-baked pitas, falafels and hand-marinated shawarmas – announced today that it is entering the St. Louis market in a big way.
The chain, which is majority-owned by St. Louis real estate investor Michael Staenberg, plans to open up to 10 restaurants in the area over the next several years. Eddie Cherry, Senior Leasing Representative at The Staenberg Group, is leading the site selection process for the company.
James Park, who grew up in St. Louis, is the CEO of the Denver-based chain.
“I am absolutely thrilled to bring this hit concept back to my hometown,” said Park. “At Garbanzo, we serve up love in every pita so our guests can feel brighter on the inside. Mediterranean cuisine is food that you can feed your kids without worries about preservatives, MSG or trans fats, and it caters to virtually every diet – from vegan and vegetarian to paleo and meat eaters. Because it’s simple, fresh and authentically made, it’s become the newest trend in the fast-casual segment.”
Garbanzo is making fresh Mediterranean cuisine a mainstream favorite across the United States. Its authentic, nutrient-rich dishes derived from Old World recipes are served with a new twist, but without compromise. Every order is customized to the guest’s liking, from juicy, high-quality meats and salads made from scratch to gyros, wraps and pita baked from scratch all day. Garbanzo is dedicated to satisfying every palate – including vegetarian and gluten-free diners – and believes that “simple tastes better.”
“We’re beginning to see a definite shift from Mexican to Mediterranean, and a transition from sandwiches to shawarmas,” said Park. “Mediterranean flavors have survived the test of time and now it’s become the food trend of the future. We just have to be sure not to mess with it too much because, at its core, it’s already darn close to perfect.”
Garbanzo’s first St. Louis-area location is projected to open in Clayton this summer.
Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh is headquartered in Colorado with 23 locations nationwide. Visit eatgarbanzo.com for hours, directions, food and catering menu and more information.
Garbanzo: Simple tastes better.
