Focus On: Pita Pit

BY BILLY BRUCE
The Valdosta Daily Times

June 29, 2008 01:30 am

— VALDOSTA — Justin and Joey Nijem have a pretty good idea that the Pita Pit restaurant they opened near VSU last week will be a hit with college students and all age groups.
The Nijem brothers, sons of Joe Nijem, got the idea for bringing a Pita Pit to Valdosta after enjoying the food and atmosphere of the eatery in Athens.
The restaurant is located in College Station shopping center at 607 Baytree Rd., about a block away from the VSU P.E. complex. To get to the parking lot, turn onto Baytree Drive off Baytree Road (on the right heading towards VSU.).
Actually, a woman was involved in bringing Georgia’s third Pita Pit franchise to Valdosta. (The other two restaurants are in Athens and Savannah).
While attending Athens Technical College, Justin Nijem often frequented the Pita Pit. Justin fell in love with the place.
“Of course Athens is a great college town, and the Pita Pit was a very popular place for college students,” Nijem said. “They play music and stay open late and have this really great menu. They have a great atmosphere that is fun. It’s a great place to meet your friends and hang out.”
About eight months ago, Nijem and his girlfriend were visiting Athens again, and made a stop into Pita Pit. Nijem credited his girlfriend with suggesting that he open a Pita Pit in Valdosta.
“I called up their headquarters in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and started the process,” Nijem said. “I just completed a two week training course up there a month ago. Coeur d'Alene’s population is 33,000. A tourist town with a big lake. Not much else happening.”
Prior to their Pita Pit project, the Nijem brothers had managed some rental properties. This is their first trek into the restaurant business.
Their franchise is one of 167 nationwide. The local shop employees 20 part-time workers, not counting the Nijem brothers and manager Shannon Fox.
“We’re really excited about it because Pita Pit is such a great place to eat,” Nijem said. “We plan to stay open late so when the bars close, all those customers will have a great place to come and eat. We have a breakfast menu and breakfast is served anytime we’re open. But we believe everyone will want to try Pita Pit once they find out it’s open.”


Q: Pita Pit advertises itself as “fresh thinking, healthy eating.” Why is it so healthy?

A: Well for starters, all your meats are grilled right in front of you. There’s like six different vegetarian pitas. There’s three different kinds of lettuce to choose from, 16 different sauces, four different kinds of cheese, and 18 toppings. So the combination options are endless. There’s six different breakfast pitas to choose from as well, and they’re served whenever we’re open. Everything here is made to order right in front of you.

Q: What kind of meats are on the menu?

A: Roast beef, chicken, ham and turkey. Try a bacon and Italian sausage breakfast pita. That’ll wake you up!

Q: Any other specialties on the menu?

A: Yes. We sell smoothies that Pita Pit is known for. Banana Very Berry, Mango Tango, Berry-Go-Round, and Blue Bayou are here. Really good for you too.

Q: What other services do you provide your customers? Do you cater? Deliver?

A: Yes, we can cater your party or event as long as we have at least two full days of advance notices. We can do a platter of pitas and you have 10 to choose from. We do deliver daily orders, and there’s a $1 fee for delivery. Call us for more details. And come see us. This is good food.

Pita Pit
Address: 607 Baytree Road
Owners: Justin and Joey Nijem
Phone: 229-249-8070
Hours: 9 a.m.-12 a.m. Sunday to Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday to Saturday
Web site: www.pitapitusa.com

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