Olga's Kitchen facts for kids
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Olga's Kitchen in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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| Industry | Restaurant |
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| Founded | 1970 in Birmingham, Michigan, US |
| Founder | Olga Loizon |
| Headquarters | Livonia, Michigan |
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Number of locations
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26 (2023) |
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Area served
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Midwest |
| Products | Greek-American cuisine |
Olga's Kitchen is a popular chain of family restaurants in the United States. It serves delicious Greek-American food. The first restaurant was started by Olga Loizon in 1970. Most Olga's Kitchen locations are in Michigan. You can also find them in Illinois and Massachusetts. The main office is in Livonia, Michigan.
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The Story of Olga's Kitchen
Olga Loizon opened the very first Olga's Kitchen in Birmingham, Michigan in 1970. She created the restaurant's special recipes right in her own basement. Olga used a machine for making souvlaki meat that her uncle had bought. Her famous yogurt sauce was inspired by her mother's recipes.
Growing the Restaurant Chain
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Olga's Kitchen grew bigger. More restaurants opened across southeastern Michigan and also in Illinois. The first location in Florida opened in 1981. By 1985, the company was earning a lot of money. It also started letting other people open Olga's Kitchen restaurants as franchises.
By 1992, Olga's Kitchen had grown to 56 stores in 11 different states. They even opened a new kind of store at Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights. However, by 1999, the number of stores had become smaller, with 28 locations in four states. One of the oldest stores in St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Illinois was still open then.
Challenges and Changes
In June 2015, Olga's Kitchen faced some financial challenges. They had to close one of their locations in the city of Detroit. Olga Loizon, the amazing founder, passed away in January 2019 at 92 years old.
What's on the Menu?
For many years, one of the most famous items at Olga's Kitchen was "Olga Bread." This bread is made by hand and used for all of the restaurant's sandwiches. The sandwiches themselves are called "Olgas."
The Original Olga Sandwich
A newspaper review in 2006 described the "Original Olga" sandwich as "a hearty sandwich that is tasty and quite filling." This signature sandwich is served on the special Olga Bread. It includes broiled beef and lamb, onions, tomatoes, and a creamy yogurt-based sauce called Olga Sauce. It's a favorite for many customers!
See also
- List of Greek restaurants
