Pita Pit wants a healthy share of the Houston fast-food market
Brand is expected to grow to 14 area stores, executive for Idaho-based chain says
Global franchise Pita Pit is bringing its healthy fast-food concept to the Houston market after arriving in Texas 10 years ago
Franchisee Nick Bhakta will open the brand’s third area location in Deer Park in mid-May, after the recent openings by other operators at 11081 Westheimer near the Energy Corridor and 12020 FM 1960 West in Cypress. An opening is planned at 21147 Texas 249 in August, and another deal is in the works for Katy.
The 1,235-square-foot location at 8015 Spencer Highway will serve Mediterranean-American fusion f are. Customers go through a line and pay before taking their food to the table. Customers pick a protein such as chicken or falafel, then select from ingredients such as spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, onions, feta and tzatziki sauce to wrap in a pita or served as a salad.
The average price is $6.89 for a pita, and just over $10 including chips and a drink, according to Pita Pit.
Like many other franchisees, Bhakta heard of the concept from family members who had eaten there. He worked with the corporate office in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, to select the location.
“We believe you don’t need to sacrifice your health to get a quick, tasty meal,” Bhakta said in an email.
The Deer Park store will be the 10th location in Texas, with others in the Dallas and San Antonio markets. The chain used to have locations in Austin.
Pita Pit is expected to grow to 14 stores in the Houston market over the next five years, said Bill Wilfong, vice president of franchise development for Pita Pit.
“People right now are looking for four things: ethnic cuisine, bold and spicy flavors, healthy and fast,” Wilfong said. “When you look at those things, we kind of feel like that’s our M.O.”
Since the brand, which started in Canada, opened at Syracuse University in 1999, Pita Pit has grown to more than 250 locations in the U.S. and 620 globally.
The restaurants average just over $500,000 in sales annually, with top stores selling more than $1 million, Wilfong said.
The stores are similar in size to Subway, which has just over 500 locations in the Houston market.
In a 2015 survey, 84 percent of quick service restaurant operators say their customers pay more attention to the nutritional content of their food than they did two years ago, according to the National Restaurant Association. The study also found that 66 percent of customers eat a wider variety of ethnic cuisines than they did five years ago.
Pita Pit joins other chains expanding in the area, such as Austin-based Verts Mediterranean Grill and Torchy’s Tacos. Verts has grown to 10 area locations, while Torchy’s has seven plus another planned in the Baybrook area. A few of the national chains expanding here are Pollo Tropical, El Pollo Loco and PDQ.
Houston’s retail occupancy is near an all-time high at 98 percent for top spaces and 94 percent overall, according to commercial real estate firm CBRE.
“Whoever wants to be here, it’s a tough road ahead because there’s just no space,” said Brian Ashby, a retail broker with CBRE. “You can’t just walk in here and do a deal.”