From left, Jim Keet, President and CEO of Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe; Heath Haley, one of the owners; and Brad Emendorfer, local owner and operator, discuss future plans in the new Gunbarrel Road location of Taziki’s on Wednesday in Chattanooga. Crews there are still working to have that location ready for its mid-August opening and the group is planning to aggressively expand in the region during the next 18 months.VIDEO
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Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe is sinking its teeth into the Scenic City.
The Birmingham, Ala., restaurant chain is opening a second location in East Brainerd, local franchisee Brad Emendorfer said. And that location will be followed by a third restaurant in Hixson within 18 months.
Eventually, Emendorfer, who already operates the Taziki’s in downtown Chattanooga, expects to operate as many as five of the fast casual Mediterranean restaurants in the region, perhaps eventually adding locations in Ooltewah and North Georgia.
“Our goal is to expand and fully develop the Chattanooga market,” he said. “But by no means are we putting the cart ahead of the horse. We want to make sure our second location is very successful and we can provide top-level service and quality to our guests in East Brainerd and give them what they deserve.”