Reports: Pita Pit Has Closed
Decatur Metro | November 5, 2013We’ve received two independent reports that Pita Pit in the DeVry building has closed its doors.
According to the eye-witnesses there are no signs of life, chairs are up on tables, and the cooler seems to have been cleared out. When you go to the Pita Pit website, there’s no longer a Decatur location listed.
No one picked up the phone during regular business hours this morning.
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Trader Joe’s? I always wanted to be the first to post that. Do I get a prize?
Curious what might really work in that spot. I used to enjoy the Quiznos, as well as the guy who ran it, and I’m not sure if they needed to close or chose to for other reasons. Either way, seems like a good spot for the lunch crowd. Maybe it’s just waiting on someone doing something indie really tailored to local sensibilities.
That parking lot is a holy hell mess so unfortunately whatever goes there (food wise) already has a strike for me. I can zip and out of Mediterranean or Community Q, the same can’t really be said over that complex. It would have to be really good for me to want to attempt to get in and out of there around dinner time especially.
Whoever goes in there needs to figure out a way to “connect” the space with the restaurants on the other side of the square (Iberian/Square Pub side and 246/Leon’s side). I think this space gets forgotten a bit, especially if you park in the circular lots off E Ponce and Trinity or the deck. Perhaps tasteful and judicious use of A-frame signs etc.
I dunno. You’d think some place would have built-in clientele with the DeVry and Art Institute audiences.
Maybe Pasta Please could reopen in that spot. I Loved that place- the food was great and the prices reasonable.. Too bad the renovation of the square killed off all its traffic with those fences.
Pitaful scene. It needs a Walmart. Take that decaturite16.
HAHAHAHAHA montyf!
Ouch. That was painful.
I thought the food was fresh and tasty at this Pita Pit. I didn’t frequent it a lot because I’m not around the Square for lunch much but I’m surprised it didn’t do well in that spot. I guess that’s why I’m not in the restaurant business–my hunches are way off.
+1
There are only two restaurants in the entire city that I have never stepped foot in. One of them is Pita Pit. Even the oddball spots like Out of the Pan have gotten a try. Out of curiosity I stepped foot into the Crepe restaurant in the Fidelity Bank (didn’t imbibe). But Pita Pit, nope.
and the second: Native – Local Joint, which has suffered the same fate.
Future restauranteurs, please invite me to step into your joint
I’ve been waiting for someone to start the negative comments about why a restaurant closed. And it comes from a person who never even went there. Because it wasn’t inviting enough.
What did he say that was negative?
when you expect/want negativity, you find it.
His first sentence sounded that way to me, but ant1 is probably right. These threads always seem to garner a lot of after-the-closing negative comments. I should have given Bruce the benefit of the doubt. My bad.
A plethora of before-the-opening negative comments is virtually assured, as well. Everybody’s a critic.
I didn’t read it as particularly negative, but maybe it’s because I’m in the same boat. I didn’t have any particular enmity toward Pita Pit. Looked like a nice enough place, but there was just never a time where I said, “Wow, I just HAVE to have a pita-based sandwich.” Apparently I was not alone. I guess people just don’t get that excited for pitas (unless there’s felafel in them, something I don’t believe PP offered).
But even though I didn’t go there, I was glad it was there and others were ostensibly enjoying its offerings and wished it well. Is that weird? I feel like that about a lot of places in town: Even though I personally don’t patronize them or want to, I’m glad it exists and that it fulfills a need for others.
Not weird at all. I feel the same way. I think it has to do with what Nelliebelle says below…I hate to see businesses close, because someone put a lot of money, time and effort into it, hoping to succeed.
[there was just never a time where I said, “Wow, I just HAVE to have a pita-based sandwich."]
I had the opposite problem. Two or three days a week I would find myself saying that. Unfortunately, it was always a few hours after Pita Pit closed as I was on my way home from Trackside. I would have done more than my part to keep them in business if they had been open until 2 or 3 in the morning like the one in Athens. Their chicken caesar pita had amazing alcohol absorbing properties!
[I guess people just don’t get that excited for pitas (unless there’s felafel in them, something I don’t believe PP offered).]
Oh, but they did have falafel. And it was pretty darned good. Half falafel, half hummus was my regular sober order there!
[ I was glad it was there and others were ostensibly enjoying its offerings and wished it well.]
That’s exactly how I feel about those places serving $12 cocktails. And fish.
They should put a Hardees in that location.
I like Hardees.
On this we can agree. I really miss the Hardee’s where that heterocentric Baptist chicken place is now.
They heard Chipotle’s footsteps. Can’t play scared, Pita Pit.
It’s all about the right fit for the location. The new Grateful Dead-themed “head shop” going in between Java Monkey and Yogurt Tap is an absolutely brilliant idea.
And if successful, we will soon have three.
I don’t know if a modern day “head shop” will work and I’m pretty sure I won’t be a customer, but I’m glad to see something of the more “indie” variety taking that spot. I may go buy a few sticks of incense just to show them I care. I was beginning to think that if you don’t sell $3 oysters or $12 drinks, you just ain’t going to make it in downtown Decatur anymore. Maybe there’s hope for us after all. This will be a great starting point for the “Keep Decatur Weird” campaign, which I plan to roll out soon, to be accompanied by a screen name change to Ron McKernan. Stay tuned.
i was about to say, complaints of $12 drinks and $3 oysters coming from someone named warren buffett didn’t jive much. although i’ve heard he can be frugal.
Seriously!? We’re getting a head shop? I kind of thought Decatur had yuppified itself out of that market. I say we start a pool on the first Decatur Metro regular to be spotted in the store talking about different glass blowing techniques. I’m looking at you J_T!
Heh. Guess I’m gonna need a disguise!
But seriously, this IS going to be useful. Walmart doesn’t sell EVERYTHING, after all.
Can I make a really inappropriate joke about Pin Ups under this comment?
“Can I make a really inappropriate joke about Pin Ups under this comment?”
I was thinking along the same lines.
I am constantly shocked at how many of my responsible, adult married with kids friends need items from a head shop.
You shouldn’t be, what with the “married with kids” part & whatnot…
Being “responsible” and needing things from a head shop are not mutually exclusive. Neither do “responsible” and “adult married with children” automatically correlate. Grasp those two truths and you will stop being shocked by much.
Is that what it’s gonna be? We asked a contractor working in there and he said “a hippie shop” which, while hilarious, isn’t exactly descriptive…
Do Scotties and Emory kids even need bongs anymore?
“Do Scotties and Emory kids even need bongs anymore?”
Say Tobacco Water Pipe, dude, or I’m gonna have to throw you out of the shop.
I was probably one of the only Scotties who even knew what that was in my class. I am not sure how if that has changed…
A man w experience, without a doubt.
What in tar-nation is that supposed to mean? They’re still college kids, right?
maybe there’s an app for that now?
Well, I’ve been looking for a meet up spot to trade my collection of Dead tapes.
I predicted this when Ruby Tuesdays closed back in May 2012, but I was silenced/edited.
There are places that, to my ear, deserve to fail on name alone: Pita Pit, Dress Barn, and Newk’s come to mind.
Forever 21, WetSeal, 5/3 Bank, juicy couture. Bad names.
What do you think about Andryannis Greek bistro moving from behind Parkers pn Ponce, into that spot ?
Is that wish or reality?
Failafel.
After all the work you and Mario put into the current location this year I would think you wouldn’t have the energy for a move like that. Interesting idea. Go for it!
Yes we have put a lot of work into our little store over the summer.. We renovated and I built all the wooden booths and herb planters from scratch with my daddy … But… We have been in our location 5 years almost and now that we are open for dinner 3 nights a week with wine and beer…. those who live in Decatur are just finding out that we even exist because of a scoutmob deal we did last month… So our location is just not giving us the visibility that we need and want. We are thankful for what we have but we just need a chance to grow a little bit more.. Let see.. We wish it goes well.. I think moving there would be great for us..
I agree. When I saw you expanded, I was worried for you. I always forget you are there and that you are now open at night. I get to work in our Decatur office for my job sometimes, so I associate you with office lunches only!
And my husband would love your food!
Thanks guys for your kind words and encouragement. I have contacted them this morning… They seems to be talking to someone already .. Lets see what happens
I like this idea! Your food is wonderful and you would have more visibility in that spot.
+1
The current spot is delightful, but so easy to overlook.
+1 were it not for DM, i would have maybe never known about your restaurant.
Good Idea, would be great location for Andryannis as long as the rent isn’t too high.
The space would definitely need some softening, it’s like dining in a fish bowl currently…
I liked their food and they were always busy when I came in so that is a surprise. I will miss that free pita on my birthday
Places like this closing make me said. It was someone’s dream at one point.
I hope it was just retirement like what happened to my go-to sushi place in dt Atlanta.
I think throwing the word “dream” around is a little generous. Yes, I think that qualifies for some restaurants that can be deeply personal endeavors, but I think more often than not, especially with franchises, it’s more accurate to say their progenitors saw them as “business opportunities,” not “dreams.” Of course it’s still demoralizing to have that business opportunity fail to pan out. But this kind of turnover, which we know makes up the majority of the restaurant business, is not the equivalent of say, failing to make an Olympic roster, or dreaming of having kids and not being able to or something of that nature.
It’s particularly demoralizing when the “dream” that fails to pan out is someone’s fantasy of succeeding well enough in a franchise business to support their family. I think you’re parsing a little too closely.
Perhaps. My point is that to assume every failed restaurant is a crushing personal setback for someone seems like an overstatement based on what I know of the industry. Many times it will be just one in a portfolio of businesses for an individual or group of partners (or parent company), and it’s purely a calculation to cut losses — a bummer and not a happy occurrence by any stretch, but largely transactional. Lesson learned for next time. It’s not always someone’s personal dream up in smoke. But I understand how it’s human nature to imagine it that way (and yes, sometimes it IS like that, and that is sad), especially when we see these storefronts as part of our community.
So what happened to Native?
I”ve always believed that that spot is cursed because some of my favorite places have failed in that location or next door–Little Azios, Indie Bookstore, Garlic Thai, and Cafe Cliche. But this time, I never even made it to Native. Nothing against it, there’s just wasn’t a draw. I wondered if the name was confusing–it wasn’t Native American, which was the first thought that came to my mind when I heard the name.
The presumptuousness of the name always rubbed me the wrong way. “Native: A Local Joint” just sounded like they were trying too hard to disingenuously claim a place in the community that in reality is earned over time. They may have been trying to convey a farm-to-table, locally-sourced ethos, but so are a dozen other places in CoD alone, so it just read like:
“Native” — We’re from here! We’re like you!
“Local” — Again, we’re from around here. Like this block. Or this neighborhood. Or this city. Where are you from? Yeah! We’re from there!
“Joint” — Keepin’ it casual, here in our ‘hood. You and me, neighbor! We’re local natives!
Presumptuous? Nah, you’re just being too sensitive. And obviously I am right because I’ve lived here longer than you
You’re right about the name being disingenuous, though. If you’re going to call it a “joint” you really shouldn’t get attitude when I ask for a dime bag.
It was the Arriba-clan curse, I’m afraid – We liked it, it had to go.
(See also Amaryn’s Thai Bowl and then Garlic.)
That space seems cursed for some reason.
The kids really liked Native, it was a place we could all agree on. Plus, it was about the only place I saw rabbit on the menu!
But it was never crowded and never seemed to develop a following (another selfish reason we liked it – we could get a table without waiting.)
Mac McGee had a pretty killer rabbit and dumplings dish on their menu last time I was in there, but that was a while back. And I had some good rabbit at Cakes & Ale about a month ago, but that’s obviously a daily menu.
I agree that more places should use rabbit. It’s delicious (like chicken, but richer and no gaminess) and affordable, but I think a lot of folks may have a hard time with the “PET or MEAT” conundrum (to paraphrase “Roger & Me”).
Been closed for months. But the number of people still just discovering that fact is giving me a clearer indication of why they went out of business.
Q: How can you fail in a location with plenty o’ parking, next door to two office towers, condos and walking-distance neighborhoods, and a great porch/patio on the main drag in a foodie town?
A: Hire only creepy-friendly inexperienced wait staff, have inconsistent food with no sandwiches, burger or vegetarian options on the dinner menu, don’t advertise, and close the week before the Book Festival crowds and cooler temps.
gunshow usually has rabbit
I’ll have to check that out. We don’t make it to Glenwood very often.
I looked at the menu from a few weeks ago, and the rabbit item was “rabbit wings”. Ummmm…..