“It feels good to be open and serving the West End,” said Bell Greek owner Ibo Pinar. (Photo courtesy of Ibo Pinar)
A local Mediterranean restaurant chain has opened its latest location in the region.
Bell Greek recently debuted at 7011 Three Chopt Road in the West End’s Village Shopping Center.
It’s the third Bell Greek outpost for owners Ibo Pinar and his wife, Ashley, joining their other locations in Midlothian and Chester.
They leased the space last August, looking to capitalize on a lack of Greek food in that part of town. They had hoped to open sooner but hit permitting and construction delays.
Ibo Pinar owns Bell Greek with his wife, Ashley. (BizSense file photo)
“It took a long time, of course,” Pinar said. “It feels good to be open and serving the West End.”
Although he declined to share the investment cost, renovations to the 2,200-square-foot space were virtually done from scratch. Once home to Moe’s Southwest Grill, the property did come with some of the necessary infrastructure, Pinar said, but repairs and upgrades were needed.
Due to the pandemic, he estimates that construction costs rose 30-40 percent during that time, requiring the business to invest more than was initially budgeted.
Among the upgrades, Pinar pushed back the storefront to create a patio space when there was none. Now, the newest Bell Greek can seat between 50 and 60 guests, with around eight to 14 more people able to eat outside.
The restaurant is the only venue on the strip with patio seating, an addition Pinar made by moving back the storefront. (Photo courtesy of Ibo Pinar)
While Pinar plans to focus his energy on the new space, he’ll be helped by a partner and a manager in running the two other restaurants, at 11307 Polo Place in Midlothian and 11360 Iron Bridge Road in Chester.
The food will remain consistent between each restaurant, thanks to a collection of recipes that serve as the backbone to Bell Greek dishes. Many of the tastes are created in-house, with the chicken and beef souvlaki marinated by the restaurant for at least 24 hours.
Pinar expects the new restaurant to be staffed by students on their summer break, but said the business is always hiring.
The couple bought Bell Greek in 2015, though Pinar’s restaurant career stems back further. Between 2002 and 2011, he was the franchisee for 10 Qdoba Mexican Eats across Virginia.
“It feels good to be open and serving the West End,” said Bell Greek owner Ibo Pinar. (Photo courtesy of Ibo Pinar)
A local Mediterranean restaurant chain has opened its latest location in the region.
Bell Greek recently debuted at 7011 Three Chopt Road in the West End’s Village Shopping Center.
It’s the third Bell Greek outpost for owners Ibo Pinar and his wife, Ashley, joining their other locations in Midlothian and Chester.
They leased the space last August, looking to capitalize on a lack of Greek food in that part of town. They had hoped to open sooner but hit permitting and construction delays.
Ibo Pinar owns Bell Greek with his wife, Ashley. (BizSense file photo)
“It took a long time, of course,” Pinar said. “It feels good to be open and serving the West End.”
Although he declined to share the investment cost, renovations to the 2,200-square-foot space were virtually done from scratch. Once home to Moe’s Southwest Grill, the property did come with some of the necessary infrastructure, Pinar said, but repairs and upgrades were needed.
Due to the pandemic, he estimates that construction costs rose 30-40 percent during that time, requiring the business to invest more than was initially budgeted.
Among the upgrades, Pinar pushed back the storefront to create a patio space when there was none. Now, the newest Bell Greek can seat between 50 and 60 guests, with around eight to 14 more people able to eat outside.
The restaurant is the only venue on the strip with patio seating, an addition Pinar made by moving back the storefront. (Photo courtesy of Ibo Pinar)
While Pinar plans to focus his energy on the new space, he’ll be helped by a partner and a manager in running the two other restaurants, at 11307 Polo Place in Midlothian and 11360 Iron Bridge Road in Chester.
The food will remain consistent between each restaurant, thanks to a collection of recipes that serve as the backbone to Bell Greek dishes. Many of the tastes are created in-house, with the chicken and beef souvlaki marinated by the restaurant for at least 24 hours.
Pinar expects the new restaurant to be staffed by students on their summer break, but said the business is always hiring.
The couple bought Bell Greek in 2015, though Pinar’s restaurant career stems back further. Between 2002 and 2011, he was the franchisee for 10 Qdoba Mexican Eats across Virginia.
Love Bell Greek! So glad they opened a location on the West End. They have awesome pastries and the menu items are awesome.
We’ve been loyal fans of the Midlo location for years. Their food is excellent! Looking forward to trying the new location.