After a brief opening last week, Olive Mediterranean Grill officially returned for business on Monday, Aug. 18, kicking off a weeklong grand opening.
The interior at Olive Mediterranean Grill features this neon sign saying “Let’s Meet @ OMG!” Credit: Margo Milanowski
The counter service restaurant was briefly open on Thursday, Aug. 14, but it had to close for a few days due to kitchen complications.
This week’s opening comes nearly two years after the local chain first announced plans to return to Evanston in the former Taco Bell location at 1743 Sherman Ave. The business was originally located across the street at 1726 Sherman Ave. before closing in 2020, after almost seven years in operation. Now, the space at 1726 Sherman houses TOMO Japanese Street Food.
The challenges of reopening
A banner outside Olive Mediterranean Grill announces the restaurant’s grand opening. Credit: Margo Milanowski
Co-owner Pekin Bayramli ran into a number of issues when setting out to reopen in Evanston.
Everything from the budget to building out a new space from scratch and finding the right staff delayed the process.
Bayramli told the RoundTable that opening in the summer also made things a little bit more difficult, because in the past he had relied on Northwestern University students to build out his staff.
“Unfortunately, I just didn’t get the timing right,” he said.
Obtaining the required permits to operate in Evanston also proved to be a long process, something Bayramli didn’t foresee given that he was reopening the same exact restaurant just in a slightly different location.
“I thought it would be a lot easier, considering I was here in the community for seven years,” he said. “I had an Olive — it’s the same concept, it’s the same restaurant — across the street. Unfortunately, it just took a lot longer because of all the permit processes.”
OMG’s legacy
In 2010, Olive Mediterranean co-owner Faisal Ghani set out to provide affordable healthy food to eat after gym workouts. As a self-proclaimed exercise addict, he wanted a fast casual alternative to the typical greasy chains.
The business launched at the corner of Lake and State streets in Chicago, offering shawarma, pita, soups and salads.
Wall decor at the new Olive Mediterranean Grill. Credit: Margo Milanowski
Bayramli first joined Ghani as the general manager at that location. There, they served healthier alternatives in a food-court-like setting next to other options they saw as greasier. Ghani hoped that intentional choice would draw customers to the healthier options at Olive.
Although this location, as well as the Evanston spot, closed during the pandemic, Ghani and Bayramli’s first foray into restaurants helped fund their other ones, including two different locations in Chicago now open.
Ghani is still involved, but Bayramli will play a bigger role in the Evanston store’s daily operations.
“He’s one of the idea guys,” Bayramli said of Ghani coming up with things like new menu items or the chain’s wine club. “I’m more in the day-to-day approach.”
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