Nick the Greek, a West Coast-based chain serving up authentic Greek street food, announced the opening of its Santa Barbara, California, location. The new location is owned and operated by restaurant industry veterans Niko Heliotis and brothers Dimitri and Panayioti Trembois. The new Santa Barbara restaurant grows the brand’s presence in Southern California to 15 locations and expands Nick the Greek’s footprint throughout the West. The opening comes as Nick the Greek is on pace to open 25 more restaurants this year, approaching 100 locations systemwide by the end of 2024.
“We’re extremely proud to bring Nick the Greek to Santa Barbara’s lively downtown area after experiencing firsthand how much the community enjoys the high-quality Greek food,” says Heliotis. “Drawing on an outlook shaped by a combined 20+ years in the restaurant industry, we’re confident guests will appreciate the welcoming restaurant environment that’s a natural part of every Nick the Greek location.”
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 boasts 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 to be 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, and the chain is on pace to surpass 90 restaurants before year’s end. 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 Western 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 Santa Barbara restaurant is located at 508 State St. and can be reached by telephone at (805) 902-4976. The restaurant is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
