GOSHEN — Since King Gyros opened at 507 W. Pike St. about five weeks ago, business has far exceeded the expectations of owner Ari Lambridis and his partner, Maria Ftergiotis.
He said the Goshen community has been very supportive and that business “has been very, very good. It’s been wonderful.”
The Goshen restaurant is the fourth location for the small chain the business partners own, Lambridis said. They opened their first location 23 years ago on Cassopolis Road in Elkhart and operate their second restaurant in Mishawaka, which has been open for 15 years. Their third location has been on South Michigan Street in South Bend for seven years.
He said the meat for gyros is cooked on a spit and goes through a full spin on that spit.
Lambridis said they had been looking for a location in Goshen for a while and it took about a month to renovate the building, which was been used as a variety of fast food outlets, including a Hot ’n’ Now.
He said that during the renovation people would stop by and ask when King Gyros would be open for business.
“The health inspector did a final inspection on the first Thursday in October so we opened at noon that day and was overwhelmed by the response,” he said. “Friday was the same way and it has been the same ever since. A lot of families come in on Saturdays and on Sundays, people come in after church. It is a very welcoming community.”
He said one of the surprises that has arisen since opening is the lack of seating inside the restaurant.
It’s a good problem, he added, but the owners thought there would be more carry-out and drive-through orders. “Instead more customers are wanting to dine in,” he said. “It’s been very good here and we love it here. People are good.”
He said another nice surprise they’ve encountered has been the positive work ethic and good attitudes of the workers hired to work at the restaurant.
“We don’t see lazy people,” Lambridis said. “There are eight people working different shifts.”
Ned and Linda Myers, Goshen, said they enjoyed their first visit to King Gyros Thursday and plan to eat there again.
“One of my favorite places to eat in Florida is similar to this,” Linda Myers said. “I was hungry for this (type of food) and this is wonderful and that took care of that craving.”
Her husband nodded in agreement.
“It’s good,” Ned said.
King Gyros
- Owners: Ari Lambridis and Maria Ftergiotis
- Address: 507 W. Pike St., Goshen
- Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day
z Phone: 574-971-8220
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