Popular Mediterranean restaurant brand sees rapid growth during its 25th anniversary year and beyond
It was 25 years ago when founders Keith Richards and his wife Amy discovered small-table Mediterranean cafés on a trip to Greece. When they returned home to Birmingham, Ala., they opened the first Taziki’s Mediterranean Café to give American diners a taste of the healthy flavors and sense of community they experienced.
Today, there are nearly 100 Taziki’s locations throughout the country – thanks to a growth-filled 2023 that saw the brand add nine new locations in five states. The greater Nashville area opened four restaurants, increasing the area’s total to 13, with at least two more planned for 2024. In addition, new franchise partners in South Carolina and Louisiana each opened the first unit of their respective multi-unit agreements.
“Our 2023 was full of new locations and opportunities for Taziki’s,” said CEO Dan Simpson. “And in 2024, we’re looking forward to an even higher level of accelerated growth and expansion that will enable us to share our Mediterranean flavors with foodies across the country.”
Taziki’s Cafe is preparing for major geographical expansion in the coming year, with new partners expected to open locations in Missouri, Iowa, and Michigan. Overall markets focused on growth in 2024 include:
- Nashville – 14th area location
- Huntsville – 3rd and 4th locations
- Atlanta – 6th area location
- Memphis – 4th area location
- Chattanooga – 4th area location
- Dallas – 3rd and 4th locations
- Louis – first location
- Des Moines – first location for a new franchise operator
“We are thrilled to be a part of the growing Taziki’s family,” said Chattanooga, TN franchisee Brad Emendorfer. “With our creative and flavorful menu, a commitment to innovation and our warm inviting culture, the sky’s the limit for us as we add another unit in Chattanooga!”
With nearly 100 locations in the U.S., Taziki’s is the go-to place for a modern twist on Mediterranean fare. To learn more about this hyper-growth restaurant named “#1 Mediterranean Franchise in 2022” by Entrepreneur Magazine, visit TazikisFranchising.com. For more information about Taziki’s, visit Tazikis.com.
Founded by Keith and Amy Richards in 1998, after a trip to Greece where they fell in love with the food and culture, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Taziki’s is a fresh celebration of the Mediterranean diet with a colorful menu that offers handcrafted, elevated, affordable fare the entire family enjoys. For the sixth year in a row, the Mediterranean diet has been ranked best overall diet in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings. Much of the original menu is still the same, with added efficiency in the process and technology to make the brand a systems-driven, scalable operation. This year the brand is celebrating 25 years of success and now serves its modern Mediterranean fare to customers at almost 100 locations in 16 states. For more information, visit Tazikis.com and follow Taziki’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
