On Tuesday, July 7th, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe became the latest restaurant to open their doors for business at the CityPark in Brentwood.
Taziki’s offers recipes made fresh and inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. Featuring fresh grilled meats, original sauces and healthy side dishes, they also serve vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Local owner Dale Nasem and Olivia Bane, local owner and Marketing Director with Taziki’s, shared opening remarks and introduced Keith Richards, Founder and Chief Development Officer. He shared the story of how Taziki’s began and how far the company has come since opening his first restaurant with his wife Amy in Birmingham, Alabama.
The culture of Taziki’s is all about giving back and Richards shared how he began hiring special needs adults to work in his restaurants. Giving employment and life skills to the individual, and in many cases respite care for the parents.
Richards shared his passion about the H.O.P.E program in Birmingham and the restaurants local partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse, preparing young adults with Downs Syndrome to hold jobs with Taziki’s. As earlier reported the new program is called EPIC and students learn life and job skills to prepare them for employment. Read our story about the EPIC program here.
Rita Moore, OTR/L representing GiGi’s is a volunteer who works with the young adults in the EPIC program. She thanked both Richards and the Taziki’s team for their passion. Two of the students in the pilot program were in attendance during the ceremony.
Jim Keet, President and CEO greeted the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilmen and Chamber members in attendance. Speaking with deep emotion about the corporate culture and how Taziki’s is quickly growing and holding on to the core beliefs that started with Richards foundation.
Taziki’s management and staff believe in giving back to their community. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Richards introduced Leigh Bawcom with Bridges Domestic Violence Center. In the day’s leading up to the opening, Taziki’s held practice sessions where guests could eat from the menu and during these sessions patrons could make donations to Bridges.
Bridges will be the non profit partner in the community. Bawcom expressed her thanks for this commitment and explained why support of Bridges is sorely needed. A check for $1514 was presented to Bawcom during the ceremony.
On hand for the ribbon cutting was Regina Smithson, Mayor who welcomed Taziki’s to Brentwood, and Nancy Conway, who spoke on behalf of the Chamber.
Open for business Taziki’s offers lunch, dinner, offers take-out and catering services. Visit Taziki’s to learn more.
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