OPA! launches new look, targets steady growth

CALGARY — OPA! of Greece has signed nine new locations for 2016 and is targeting steady growth beyond that, with expansion occurring via a mix of food court units and new concept, sit-down restaurants.

Launched in May in the Clearwater Landing power centre in Fort McMurray, Alta., the new concept has been designed to deliver more open space and brighter dining rooms, through design elements such as wood finishes and a palette focusing on white and aqua blue.

It offers a variety of seating options, from booths to high-top tables.

Unchanged, however, is the casual Greek menu: salads; dips with pita bread; spanakopita; grilled pork, chicken, lamb and shrimp souvlaki skewers; wraps; gyros; falafel; and baklava.

In mid-October, a second new concept location opened in Calgary’s East Hills neighbourhood, and president and chief executive officer Simon Lileikis reported that the new format has been “very well received” by OPA!’s clientele.

Both new concept restaurants measure 1,200 square feet and seat 34.

Currently, there are 90 Canadian locations, about evenly split between food court and sit-down sites located from British Columbia to Ontario. Signed units are expected to open next year in Alberta (Red Deer, Edmonton and multiple sites in Calgary); Saskatchewan (Regina and Saskatoon); and in Delta, B.C., in the Tsawwassen Mills enclosed mall that’s under construction and expected to open in fall 2016, according to marketing director Mike MacDonald. Of the nine sites expected to open in 2016, six will be sit-down restaurants and three will be located in food courts, he said.

Looking beyond 2016, Lileikis said OPA! is targeting six to nine sites per year, for three years, focusing on the B.C.-to-Manitoba corridor (large cities will be the focus, said MacDonald).

In two years, “we will take another run at Ontario,” focusing on Toronto and Ottawa, said Lileikis. On top of that, OPA! is exploring food court opportunities in Halifax.

Lileikis said, “75 per cent of new locations will be (located in) power centres.”

OPA!’s modest expansion plans “give us enough momentum to open new locations and still focus on the operation of our existing locations,” he added.

Typical footprints for new sit-down restaurants will range from 1,200 to 1,700 square feet, with 1,400 square feet being ideal, said Lileikis. Food court units average 500 to 600 square feet.

Recently, OPA! renovated two British Columbia locations to the new concept. Going forward, OPA! locations “in the upper sales echelon” will be candidates for “full-blown” renovations to the new concept, said Lileikis.

In addition, the company offers an easy and “cost-effective” opportunity to provide a facelift to sit-down locations by the addition of OPA!-branded wallpaper and posters, said MacDonald.

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