New Arrivals – June 2021
Posted by estiator at 7 June, at 04 : 18 AM Print
A coast-to coast glance at some of the industry’s newest additions
Detroit
GOLDEN FLEECE
goldenfleecedetroit.com
You can’t really call a 51-year-old institution a “new arrival,” but you could consider Golden Fleece reborn. In March, the iconic Greektown restaurant unveiled a refreshed look, with an updated dining room, new kitchen, and brand-new bathrooms. “While we restored the dining room, we tried to keep it as original as possible, including the original floors, ceiling, and walls,” says Spero Dionysopoulos, who also opened Bakalikon (see above). “We’re the longest-standing restaurant in Greektown, and we didn’t want to change the authenticity.” The renovation cost “a considerable amount of money,” says Dionysopoulos, who also co-owns Exodos Lounge, an adjacent rooftop bar and nightclub. Golden Fleece also relaunched its menu, with more vegan and vegetarian options, “all authentic Greek,” he says.
Philadelphia And Kennett Square, PA
GREEK FROM GREECE
gfg-bakery.com
Giorgios Drosos’ fast-growing all-day Greek franchise opened its first two Pennsylvania locations in March. Located near Drexel University, the Philadelphia location will be operated by GFG’s first franchisee, Dimitri Gouliaberis, according to Restaurant News. The Kennett Square franchisees, Chris and Maria Kotanidis, “are successful entrepreneurs with 30 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry,” Restaurant News said. Through 2021, Greek from Greece expects to increase its footprint to more than 45 stores. With more deals in the pipeline, GFG projects over 100 units will either be open or in progress by the end of the year.
Gainesville, FL
SCUOLA PIZZA
scuolapizzagainesville.com
Bill Sinis spent five years teaching English in Greece before returning to Gainesville, FL. The experience inspired him to open Scuola Pizza, whose menu ranges from traditional pizza to Greek staples like keftedes, souvlaki, and gyros. In the dining area, books line the walls, along with vintage-inspired maps and posters—“scuola” means “school” in Italian. The Sinis family, according to Scuola’s site, has “over 40 years of restaurant experience,” and when they returned to Gainesville, “they wanted to open a restaurant where the ambiance was as unique as their signature dishes… They desired to create an environment reminiscent of a bygone era, a place where one can relax and read a plethora of literature as they dine in.” In a bit of fusion cuisine, some pizzas tilt Greek, like the Athena—spinach, onions, garlic, tomato, and feta.
