Residents from Lakewood, Bellflower, Downey and other cities craving Avgolemono soup or Lamb Souvlaki from George's Greek Cafe soon won't have to cross the Long Beach border to satiate appetites.
The Loizides family is expanding its 10-year business into neighboring Lakewood, where the family plans to open its third eatery along Restaurant Row near Lakewood Center in early September.
The Loizides family, who opened George's in 1999, has restaurants at 5316 E. Second St. in Belmont Shore and at 135 Pine Ave. in downtown Long Beach
"We've been wanting to open a third location for awhile now, but we wanted to make the move first," said Jimmy Loizides, referring to the move last year from its original Pine Avenue location to its current digs down the street.
They were also looking for the right deal, he said.
"We were looking at spaces 1 1/2 years ago and everything was just too expensive," he said.
Lastly, the family wanted to expand, but remain a locally run business.
"Lakewood's perfect," he said. "It's close to the two restaurants and it just seemed like the perfect location. We get a lot of customers from that area, too, and it seems like that part of Southern California -- Lakewood, Cerritos, Bellflower, Downey -- are very underserved with it comes to Greek restaurants."
George's Greek will take over the space formerly occupied by Cafe Chin Chin, situated next to another business that began in Long Beach, Super Mex.
The Lakewood location at 5252 Faculty will have a full bar, room for banquets, and 160 seats, including a 60-seat patio area that wraps around the front of the restaurant.
Asked about expansion plans beyond Lakewood, Loizides has considered Huntington Beach and Newport Beach as possible locations. But for now, he wants to focus on Lakewood. The opening is set for September, but that depends on how quickly he can train the 40 employees who will be working at the new restaurant.
"That's our biggest priority," he said.
The Loizides family is expanding its 10-year business into neighboring Lakewood, where the family plans to open its third eatery along Restaurant Row near Lakewood Center in early September.
The Loizides family, who opened George's in 1999, has restaurants at 5316 E. Second St. in Belmont Shore and at 135 Pine Ave. in downtown Long Beach
"We've been wanting to open a third location for awhile now, but we wanted to make the move first," said Jimmy Loizides, referring to the move last year from its original Pine Avenue location to its current digs down the street.
They were also looking for the right deal, he said.
"We were looking at spaces 1 1/2 years ago and everything was just too expensive," he said.
Lastly, the family wanted to expand, but remain a locally run business.
"Lakewood's perfect," he said. "It's close to the two restaurants and it just seemed like the perfect location. We get a lot of customers from that area, too, and it seems like that part of Southern California -- Lakewood, Cerritos, Bellflower, Downey -- are very underserved with it comes to Greek restaurants."
George's Greek will take over the space formerly occupied by Cafe Chin Chin, situated next to another business that began in Long Beach, Super Mex.
The Lakewood location at 5252 Faculty will have a full bar, room for banquets, and 160 seats, including a 60-seat patio area that wraps around the front of the restaurant.
Asked about expansion plans beyond Lakewood, Loizides has considered Huntington Beach and Newport Beach as possible locations. But for now, he wants to focus on Lakewood. The opening is set for September, but that depends on how quickly he can train the 40 employees who will be working at the new restaurant.
"That's our biggest priority," he said.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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