Cleveland, Tenn., may have historically been a meat and potatoes -- or burger and fries -- kind of town. But Milan Patel is convinced that Bradley County residents are hungry for a broader menu of offerings.
The 36-year-old restaurateur, who brought Tennessee's first Orange Leaf Yogurt shop to Cleveland in 2011, will bring another new restaurant concept to the region Monday when he opens Pita Pit in a former Inkredible Cartridges storefront on the Paul Huff Parkway.
In June, Patel plans to open yet another type of restaurant when he and business partner Kuch Shah open a new Mexican restaurant he is calling DosBros.
The Pita PitPatel is pumping about $750,000 into his two new restaurants. But based upon his success at Orange Leaf Yogurt, he is confident Cleveland will embrace the new restaurants.
"The community has been super supportive of our efforts and I think that just shows that Cleveland is looking for new options and alternatives to the traditional burger and fries," Patel said.
Pita Pit offers an array of quick-service pita wraps, mostly priced for $7 to $8 each, with a variety of meats and vegetable alternatives. The restaurant bills itself as a fresh and healthy alternative to fast food.
Pita Pit began in Kingston, Canada in 1995 and expanded into the United States in 2005. The restaurant chain now has more than 500 restaurants, including others in Murfreesboro and Nashville in Tennessee.
Patel's Pita Pit, the first in Southeast Tennessee, will be located in a 1,200-square-foot storefront with seating inside for a couple of dozen patrons and outdoor patio seating for another 16.
"The location is great and I think this community really embraces new options when you bring them to town," Patel said.
The new Pita Pit will open at 10:30 a.m. with a breakfast menu and will offer lunch and dinners through the evening, Patel said.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340.