There aren’t a lot of places to get a gyro on College Avenue these days. Luckily (for gyro fans), that situation will be remedied shortly.
Michael Theodore, owner of Kosmos Greekafe on Dickson Street has purchased a building at 2136 N. College Avenue (the old Arby’s), and plans to begin selling gyros, falafels, and other Greek food items at the location in the coming months.
“We are in the beginning stages of remodeling,” Theodore told us. “We anticipate opening at the beginning of summer 2011.”
Theodore hopes to utilize the new space to be able to accommodate more large catering orders, and to handle larger groups in the restaurant. He also plans to expand the menu a bit.
“Look for new Greek items such as a Greek Pasta Dish, Pastichio, and Spanakopita,” Michael said.
Free parking, an expanded kitchen, a larger seating area, and the ability to have a pick-up window were a few of the things that were attractive to Theodore about the new location.
“Kosmos on Dickson is well known to people at the University and downtown area. I want to make Kosmos more accessible to the rest of Fayetteville,” he said. “When this particular location came up for sale, I jumped on it.”
Michael told us that he has not yet decided if the new location will be an expansion, or if he’ll move his business entirely from Dickson Street to College Avenue.
“It’s still up in the air,” he said.
Guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Tangiers on College has good gyros too. Try the falafel.
That place cannot even compare to Kosmos. I don’t even think its Greek.
@Lankford – I agree! Tangiers is really good! I’m a vegetarian and I love all the options available. Plus, they’re reasonably priced.
First, I didn’t even know that Arby’s closed. Second – I don’t think this is a wise move
My friends and I used to be the ONLY people who’d ever go to that Arby’s- it got to the point where the staff would be like ‘They’re back!’ and we were like ‘Oh my… this place is gonna close’. And second to that, we always went either there or Kosmos, so this is sort of a funny coincidence. Anyhow, I don’t think it’s a wise move either- that is, if it’s a move rather than an expansion- I think it got so much of a cult following by being downtown anyway and it was always one of the better places to go eat (sorry, I don’t care for taco bell food dubbed as ‘gourmet’- Qdoba) that’s not crazy expensive or full of bad service. Now, there’s even less of a reason for me to go to Dickson.
Drive thru options are always nice- I think the old Arby’s location could be a great add on for Kosmos.
I think there are tons of people who may not make it down to Dickson, but would stop by on College.
I wish them luck.
This great news for my family. We frequent Kosmos at least once a week. Either myself or my wife will go in and order and the other drives around the block until the food is ready. We don’t really like to waste our money on parking fees. A pick up window is very appealing. Congrats Kosmos. The fellow at the counter told me that Kosmos has been renting its current location all this time. Who wouldn’t want to own their own location. Can’t wait to see the new place, that Arby’s was an eyesore!
Are they going to serve the full Arby’s menu too?
Theodore, if you or your folks read this–if you expand the menu, LOUKOUMADES!!
That building will look good in blue! I hope they’ll plant a few bushes along College to screen their parking.
The new location will guarantee we’ll be there more often. I like Kosmos, but parking has gotten even tighter over the last month. The Clubhaus/bookstore lot next door just went to a contractor pay parking arrangement, and that used to be one of the last go-to places to snag a spot if you just wanted to pop in for a bite to eat.
Getting off Dickson before pay parking completely kills it.
Great idea. I will dedinately eat there more.
now I can eat there more often too! I stopped going as frequently because of the dickson parking fees. Dickson in tanking.
Tangiers was alright, but the Kosmos gyro has so much more flavor and is a better bargain. I wish Kosmos success!
If the owners are taking a poll, I’m really hoping they keep their current location as well. I walk over there at least twice a month for lunch, and lots of other folks walk there too. The College Ave location will be more convenient for lots of folks, but not for me and a lot of people who work on and around Dickson as well as students from campus.
You know, you make an interesting point…
I work downtown, and I live downtown, too. Between people like myself, yourself and the college kiddos, the walking crowd does provide a substantial amount of business for not only Kosmos, but other businesses on Dickson.
I wonder what the percentage of walkers vs. drivers/parkers is at any given time. That would be a difficult statistic to track without a survey of some sort.
I think their receipts are ultimately going to tell their story. Since pay parking began, businesses now have nearly seven months of books to compare to years prior. That’s their ultimate gauge of opinion.
Don Marr believed there would only be a 90-day “protest period.” The satellite locations opening outside Dickson suggest worse.
On the other hand, satellite locations, if they are in addition to Dickson Street locations, might indicate that business is good. Or they might indicate a wish to do business with whiners.
I’ve spoken with several Dickson Street restaurant and bar owners recently and each one of them said paid parking has negatively affected their business. Are they just whiners too? Where is the line between voicing legitimate displeasure with a city decision that’s hurting one’s business and being a whiner? Or is a whiner simply anyone who disagrees with you?
Does anyone have access to the HMR reports from January for a year-to-year comparison? I’d like to see that data, and then draw a conclusion. But that’s just me, so feel free go ahead and make whatever claim you want.
robertocampana–
You’re a whiner if you avoid restaurants and bars you like, even if you have to drive to Rogers, just to teach “the man” a lesson. Take more time, use more gas, wear and tear your car– just to “show them”. Sacrifice the restaurants and bars you like– maybe the livelihoods of people you know– because it’s more important that the city learn to respect your “right” to free parking.
All those noseless, spited faces… At least they have their principles, even if they’ll never know what their principles smell like.
Mr. Dooley – most of the owners I spoke with are running bars, so the HMR reports aren’t going to shed much light on how their business has been. These are people I’ve known for a long time and I trust them. They’re the ones making these claims, not me.
David Franks – What a presumptuous response. Despite a few hyperbolic comments on this site, I find it highly unlikely that Fayetteville residents are driving to Rogers to eat or get a drink because they’re so pissed off about paid parking. Far more likely is that there are people who live just as close or closer to restaurants and bars in other parts of town as Dickson Street, and paid parking is enough of a hassle to cause them to make fewer trips down there. By your logic, that would be preferable, because they’re now wasting less time and fuel when they go out by frequenting places closer to home.
Also, it’s possible to take a principled stand against paid parking while still supporting your favorite Dickson establishments. I’ve been back to Fayetteville several times since paid parking was set up, and I haven’t paid once, instead opting to park elsewhere and hoof it a couple blocks to Dickson.
Let’s face it. The only way you’ll ever know why business owners are relocating or expanding off Dickson St. is if you put yourself in their shoes. Until you pay rent, utilities, payroll, insurance, vendor bills, bank notes, etc out of a drawer from a business of your own on Dickson St., you have no qualifications to presume why business owners are handling their businesses the way they are. They have to do what’s best for their business, whether it be move, expand, or for some unfortunately, shut down. The only person that makes any sense here is robertocampana. Dickson St. is shaking up for a reason…paid parking. Enough said.
robertocampana–
My response is presumptuous only to the extent that it presumes the validity of threats, avowals, claims and promises posted here in the Flyer and elsewhere by people who are not happy about paid parking. There’s no need to take it personally– it sounds to me like you’re not a whiner.
MIDTOWN!!!
amazing news. good for them but….
confirms my theory…. paid parking was a clever plot to buy out dickson one place at a time. i wonder who the victor will be ( the university of course ).
Since most of the restaurant spaces are leased, relocations and expansions don’t indicate movement in Dickson Street real estate. The few major owners of Dickson Street properties aren’t likely to sell anything in the foreseeable future.
Next door to Slim Chicken’s, a locally owned establishment.
I agree with Lankford that Tangiers on College makes a tasty falafel.
One time when I asked for falafel at Kosmos on Dickson street, they said they didn’t have it because falafel was Mediterranean and Kosmos is Greek. I thought Greece is in the Mediterranean region, but in any case, it’s simply a non-meat option that I was hungry for.
Happy to hear the new Kosmos on College will add Spanakopita, a spinach feta pastry. Gonna try that.
Looks like Grub’s Uptown (OFF Dickson) is doing very well in a spot no one could make successful. Kosmos will do fine in Midtown, which is the heart of Fayetteville. Fayetteville supports good local businesses.
People keep dogging dirty old Midtown but they will soon have Slim’s, Kosmos, Feltner’s, Tim’s, Foghorn’s, Savor, AQ, Mermaids, etc. You Go Midtown!!!
I wonder if they’ll have beer? The city needs to prioritize some sidewalk improvements in Midtown. There’s lots of potential there, and virtually zero pedestrian environment.
No kidding, Mr. Burger. No sidewalks.
While I do really enjoy Kosmos and indeed hope that the Dickson St location doesn’t move out, I think that the food at Tangier’s is probably the best Mediterranean in town (with Petra Cafe coming in at a close second). Every time I’ve been to Tangier’s, their food is consistently delicious and fresh. I hope their business isn’t hurt by the new Kosmos location.
I’ve lived in the Middle East for awhile, traveled to Greece a couple of times, and been to about half of the countries around the Mediterranean Sea….. and Tangier’s is the worst excuse for Mediterranean food this town has ever seen.
It’s a shame to hear people what people think is “good” food around here. Next yall will say La Huerta is has good Mexican food, Feltner Brothers is a good Burger, and Taste of Thai is the best Thai food in NWA….. Man this town is something out of the twilight zone…. Yall need to travel a little bit more and actually taste the food they are trying to impersonate.
Kosmos, while not exactly an Amazing place, is probably the most legitimate Gyro in town, while Petra is a close second merely because the coziness.
No one cares where you’ve lived, where you’ve traveled, or what YOU think is good food. Good food is all a matter of opinion to each and every individual person. I’ll tell ya who really doesn’t care what you think…the owners of all the restaurants you just named. All of which are very successful. Some of which already have multiple locations or are expanding. I’m sure they’d take your opinion and laugh at it all the way to the bank, because obviously many other people disagree with you. Thanks for your worthless, pompous comments though. I’ll remember to forget them and continue patronizing all these businesses, cause guess what…I think they’re gooooooooooood. I don’t need to go to the Middle East, Greece or the Mediterranean to know what I like. Hey, maybe one day I’ll get to travel there and see what you’re saying, but until then I’ll hop in my car and drive across town to eat a Gyro rather than spend over a thousand bucks on a plane ticket to fly halfway across the world for a bit to eat. Ta ta…
Yeah you’re right, I apologize for those rude comments, I appreciate the reality check, and will work on that old saying “if i aint got something constructive to say, then I aint got nothing to say at all.
petra serves middle eastern food.
I ate at Tangiers once and was not impressed. My wife and I were the only ones in there and there was no background music which is always awkward. I got a gyro since there were very few items on the menu. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t anything special and I like Kosmo’s gyro better. Maybe they have improved since I went there?
Went to original location. Smelled them turn on the fry daddy, then the server/chef slipped an told us there was no running water. Left immediately, should have
what this town needs is a good Lebanese restaurant that is a bit fancier than Kosmos, better hours than Petra (who does all their cooking in a microwave), with wines from the region the style of food is from, and actual glasses for beer. I don’t even care where it would be, I’d go. End of story. Heck, I’d give anything for one of the burrito joints on Dickson to be turned into a Pita Pit- this town needs more pita…not to mention a german restaurant and an Indian restaurant.
Just go to Lowell for your Indian fix. That place is awesome and maybe 15 minutes from Fayetteville.
but that isn’t keeping fayetteville funky :( I live my life by what I read on the bumper sticker I seem to see so often in Bentonville…
What, Emelia’s isn’t close enough for you? I mean, you can get beer in a glass (or a good selection of expensive wines) and effing tabouleh and grape leaves! Not ideal since it’s not exactly Lebanese in prep, but come on…
i’m also surprised that we don’t have a pita pit.
Einstein Bros Bagels is going in where the Bank of America used to be at Evelyn Hills.
nice
Midtown, FTW. *chirp* *chirp*
Thanks for the tip, A little birdy.
Breakfast Bagels all day long, at last. Had a feeling Einstein Brothers Bagels would show up here eventually. Of course I still love Little Bread Co., Jammin’ Java, and those “Everything Bagels” at IGA, but I will welcome the Einstein option to Panera among the chains on College Ave.
Einstein Bros Bagels opening June or July, probably, confirmed by calling Einstein Brothers location in Rogers today.