The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has opened its first special venue location inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marking the brand's debut in the sports and entertainment venue space. This strategic expansion represents a significant milestone for the award-winning Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand as it explores nontraditional growth opportunities beyond traditional real estate options.
Local entrepreneurs and brand co-founders Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones, who acquired the first Great Greek Mediterranean Grill restaurant in Las Vegas in 2016, recognized that traditional real estate options were becoming more limited after years of growing the brand's footprint throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Their search for alternative growth avenues led to conversations with T-Mobile Arena and Levy, T-Mobile Arena's foodservice partner, resulting in the new concourse location.
"The timing couldn't have been more perfect," said Nick Della Penna. "Joining the T-Mobile Arena family is an incredible honor, and we're excited to introduce The Great Greek to fans at one of Las Vegas' most iconic venues. This opening is a proud moment for us as a restaurant that started right here in this city."
The T-Mobile Arena location will feature a scaled-down menu designed for the fast-paced environment, offering signature favorites including the award-winning Great Greek Gyro, Falafel Pita, Hummus, Feta Fries, and Mom's Rice Pudding. This adaptation demonstrates the brand's flexibility in catering to different dining environments while maintaining its core Mediterranean offerings.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill operates as part of the Big Flavor Brands food service division of United Franchise Group, a globally recognized leader in franchising. Following Della Penna and Jones's acquisition of the brand in 2016 and their subsequent partnership with UFG in 2018 to launch the nationwide franchise program, the chain has experienced remarkable growth. According to data firm Technomic, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill now ranks among the 10 fastest-growing restaurant chains in the country, with over 70 locations across 22 U.S. states.
"Expanding into T-Mobile Arena is a powerful step forward for our brand," said Bob Andersen, President of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. "As we continue to focus on strategic growth, this milestone demonstrates our flexibility to adapt to new formats and connect with guests wherever they gather. We're proud to be represented at such a premier venue and excited about the visibility and momentum this location will bring to our system."
T-Mobile Arena, located on the Las Vegas Strip between Park MGM and New York-New York, hosts more than 100 events annually including major headline entertainment, awards shows, UFC, boxing, basketball and other sporting events. The 20,000-seat venue also serves as home to the Vegas Golden Knights NHL team and UFC's exclusive Las Vegas arena destination. For more information about the arena, visit https://T-MobileArena.com.
This expansion into venue dining represents an important trend in the restaurant industry, where established brands are increasingly seeking growth through nontraditional locations including airports, stadiums, and entertainment complexes. The move provides The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill with significant exposure to diverse audiences while offering arena visitors expanded dining options beyond traditional stadium fare.
