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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36 (2025) |
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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. They serve delicious Greek-American food. Most of their restaurants are in Michigan, where the company started. Olga Loizon founded Olga's Kitchen in 1970. Today, the company's main office is in Livonia, Michigan. There are currently 36 Olga's Kitchen locations, mostly in Michigan, but also in Illinois and Ohio.
Contents
The Story of Olga's Kitchen
How Olga Started Her Restaurants
Olga Loizon opened the very first Olga's Kitchen in Birmingham, Michigan in 1970. She created many of the restaurant's special recipes right in her own home. For example, she used a machine her uncle bought to make souvlaki meat. The tasty yogurt sauce was inspired by her mother's recipes.
Growing Across the States
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Olga's Kitchen began to grow. More restaurants opened in southeastern Michigan and even in Illinois. In 1981, the first Olga's Kitchen in Florida opened its doors. By 1985, the company was doing very well and started allowing other people to open Olga's Kitchen restaurants as franchises.
By 1992, Olga's Kitchen had grown to 56 restaurants in 11 different states. They even opened a special new type 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 very first restaurants in St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights, Illinois was still open at that time.
Recent Years
In June 2015, Olga's Kitchen went through a difficult time with its business. During this period, one of its locations in the city of Detroit closed. Olga Loizon, the amazing founder, passed away in January 2019 at the age of 92.
What's on the Menu?
Olga Bread and Signature Sandwiches
For many years, a very special item at Olga's Kitchen has been their "Olga Bread." This bread is made by hand and is used for all of the restaurant's sandwiches. These sandwiches are famously called "Olgas."
The Original Olga Sandwich
One of the most famous sandwiches is called the Original Olga. In 2006, a review in the Lansing State Journal described it as a "hearty sandwich that is tasty and quite filling." The Original Olga is served on the special Olga bread. It includes broiled beef and lamb, onions, tomatoes, and a creamy yogurt-based sauce known as Olga Sauce.
See also
- List of Greek restaurants
