Nick the Greek, a West Coast-based chain serving up authentic Greek street food, has opened its second location in San Francisco, California. The fast-growing brand’s newest restaurant is located in downtown San Francisco’s Metreon shopping mall and is owned and operated by the Fanourgiakis Brothers franchise group, which owns four existing Nick the Greek locations throughout the Bay Area. The experienced multi-brand franchise group has development rights for the city of San Francisco and plans to open three additional Nick the Greek locations across the city. With more than 75 restaurants in operation and dozens in the pipeline, Nick the Greek will approach 100 locations systemwide by the end of 2024.
“As lifelong Bay Area residents, my three brothers and I are thrilled to share a taste of our Greek heritage with San Francisco, which is a city we love and are passionate about contributing to its revitalization,” said George Fanourgiakis in a statement. “Being born and raised in a Greek family, you understand what truly authentic Greek street food is, and we’re ready to feed downtown San Francisco with our newest Nick the Greek restaurant at The Metreon.”
Established in 2014 by cousins Big Nick, Little Nick, and Baby Nick Tsigaris – all named after their grandfather per Greek tradition – Nick the Greek satisfies the desire for healthy, flavorful and authentic Greek cuisine in a fast casual environment without compromising quality. Drawing from two generations of restaurant entrepreneurship and countless visits to Greece, the street food-inspired menu has flavorful gyro meats cooked in-house on a traditional vertical rotisserie, charbroiled souvlaki skewers, zesty sauces, fresh vegetables and authentic Greek treats including baklava and loukoumades. In meeting the high demand for Greek street food, Nick the Greek has carved out a niche in the ultra-competitive fast casual space – a differentiator that has proven critical to the brand’s rapid growth.
Celebrating a decade in business in 2024, Nick the Greek has greatly accelerated expansion efforts over the last three years, adding dozens of new locations and increasing store count by nearly 100 percent. Today, guests can find Nick the Greek restaurants throughout seven states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Utah. By strategically establishing locations in high-visibility downtown metro areas, Nick the Greek has reached large audiences and steadily developed a diverse and devoted fan base. The brand has identified key markets throughout the U.S. and is seeking franchise partners interested in expanding their portfolios with a progressive fast casual brand on the rise.
Nick the Greek’s San Francisco Metreon restaurant is located at 145 Fourth St. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
