Taziki’s Opens New Jasper, Alabama Restaurant, Continuing Growth Across Greater Birmingham
Taziki’s Mediterranean Café Opens in Jasper, Alabama
Taziki’s Mediterranean Café is proud to celebrate the opening of its newest restaurant in Jasper, Alabama. The Jasper location officially opened on April 14, 2026, making it the second new Taziki’s opening of the year and another exciting step in the brand’s continued growth across the Southeast.
This opening is especially meaningful for the Taziki’s family. Congratulations to founder Keith Richards and Amy Richards, owner/operator Jason Rice, co-owner and landlord Dustin Beaty, and the many team members, construction partners, trainers, operators, and support staff whose hard work helped bring this restaurant to life.
The Jasper restaurant also marks Taziki’s 14th location in the greater Birmingham market, a region that has played an important role in the story of Taziki’s since the very beginning. And based on the first few days of operation, one thing is already clear: Jasper is showing strong support for its new neighborhood Mediterranean café.
A Local Restaurant Owned by Local Partners
One of the reasons this opening feels so special is the local connection behind it. Jason Rice, the owner/operator of the Jasper Taziki’s, calls the community home and understands what this restaurant means to the people who live and work nearby.
Dustin Beaty, who serves as both landlord and co-owner, also played an important role in helping bring the restaurant to this historic downtown location. That combination of local ownership, real estate partnership, and community excitement helped create the right foundation for Taziki’s to enter the Jasper market.
As Jason Rice shared:
“I call the Jasper community home and so many friends and neighbors have been asking for Taziki’s to bring a location to town. I’m so glad that we were able to find such a great location in the historic downtown and be part of activating the community with a great healthy restaurant, owned by locals.”
That quote captures what Taziki’s hopes to bring to every new market: fresh Mediterranean food, genuine hospitality, and a restaurant that feels connected to the people it serves.
A Full-Circle Moment on Birmingham Avenue
Some new store openings feel especially fitting. Jasper is one of them.
The new Taziki’s is located on Birmingham Avenue, a natural connection for a brand founded in Birmingham, Alabama and still deeply rooted in the communities that helped shape it.
One of the most powerful images from this opening is seeing founder Keith Richards standing in front of the same building 493 days apart. The first photo was taken during an early visit to the potential site, before the restaurant was approved, designed, built, staffed, trained, and opened. The second was taken just a couple of days after the restaurant opened for business.
That kind of before-and-after moment tells a bigger story than a construction timeline. It shows the journey from possibility to reality.
For prospective franchise owners, it is also a reminder that opening a restaurant does not begin when construction starts. It begins much earlier, with the right market, the right site, the right real estate process, and the right support system.
What a New Taziki’s Opening Really Represents
To guests, a new Taziki’s opening may look like fresh food, smiling team members, a busy dining room, and a community excited to welcome a new restaurant.
Behind the scenes, every opening represents months of coordinated work.
Before a Taziki’s Mediterranean Café opens its doors, the process typically includes:
Site search and market review
Real estate evaluation
Letter of intent negotiation
Lease review and execution
Architectural plans
Permitting
Construction
Hiring and training
Pre-opening preparation
Operational support before, during, and after opening
While restaurant construction itself can often take 90 to 100+ days, the full process of opening a new Taziki’s can stretch closer to a year when you include site selection, lease negotiation, plans, permitting, buildout, training, and opening preparation.
That is why timing matters so much.
Planning to Open a Restaurant Franchise in 2026 or 2027? Start Now.
For entrepreneurs and multi-unit operators exploring a restaurant franchise opportunity, the Jasper opening is a great real-world example of how far in advance the process needs to begin.
If your goal is to open a restaurant in 2026, now is the time to be actively working on your site search. If your goal is to open in 2027, this is also the right time to begin conversations, evaluate markets, understand the process, and start building a real estate strategy.
A strong restaurant location is not usually found overnight. The best sites often require patience, market knowledge, landlord conversations, demographic review, operational planning, and experienced guidance.
At Taziki’s, franchise growth is not just about opening more restaurants. It is about opening the right restaurants, in the right communities, with the right partners.
Why Jasper, Alabama Is a Meaningful Addition to the Taziki’s System
Jasper is a strong addition to the Taziki’s footprint because it reflects what the brand has always believed: great food, genuine hospitality, and community connection can thrive in both large metro markets and growing local communities.
Taziki’s has built a strong presence across the greater Birmingham market, and the Jasper opening adds another point of access for guests looking for fresh Mediterranean food, convenient takeout, catering, and a welcoming place to gather.
For the franchise system, it also demonstrates the continued opportunity for thoughtful growth in Alabama and across the Southeast. Taziki’s remains a compelling option for franchise prospects looking for a Mediterranean restaurant franchise with an established brand, operational experience, and a food category that continues to resonate with today’s guests.
What This Opening Shows Prospective Franchise Owners
For prospective franchise partners, the Jasper opening offers a clear example of what thoughtful restaurant growth can look like. Taziki’s is not simply looking to add units anywhere a space becomes available. The brand is focused on finding strong communities, capable local operators, quality real estate, and locations that can serve guests through dine-in, takeout, catering, and everyday convenience.
That matters for anyone researching a Mediterranean restaurant franchise or a healthy fast casual franchise opportunity. The right franchise brand should offer more than a popular menu. It should provide a proven operating model, real estate guidance, training, brand support, and a food category with long-term guest demand.
Taziki’s continues to stand out in the fast casual restaurant space because it brings together fresh Mediterranean-inspired food, genuine hospitality, and a restaurant model built for today’s guest. From lunch and dinner to catering and family meals, Taziki’s gives franchise owners multiple ways to serve their communities while building a business around food people feel good about eating.
A Mediterranean Franchise Brand With Roots and Momentum
Taziki’s was born in Birmingham, and each new opening in Alabama carries a little extra meaning. The Jasper restaurant is not just another dot on the map. It is a continuation of a story that started with fresh ingredients, Mediterranean-inspired flavors, and a belief that restaurants can serve people well beyond the plate.
That balance matters.
Taziki’s is a brand with soul, but it is also a brand built around real systems, real operational support, and real development discipline. New store openings like Jasper bring those two sides together. They show the heart of the brand while also highlighting the process, planning, and execution it takes to grow.
For potential franchise partners, that combination is important. The best restaurant franchise opportunities are not just about a menu or a logo. They are about the people behind the brand, the systems supporting the restaurants, and the ability to help new locations open with purpose.
Is Taziki’s a Good Franchise Opportunity for Restaurant Operators?
For qualified franchise candidates, Taziki’s offers an opportunity to join an established Mediterranean restaurant brand with more than 100 locations and deep roots in the Southeast. The brand is especially attractive for operators who believe in hospitality, community connection, fresh food, and disciplined restaurant operations.
Taziki’s may be a strong fit for franchise prospects who are looking for:
A Mediterranean food franchise with a differentiated menu
A fast casual restaurant franchise with fresh, better-for-you positioning
A restaurant brand with real operational systems and support
A franchise opportunity with room for thoughtful market growth
A brand that balances strong business fundamentals with genuine hospitality
New store openings like Jasper show what can happen when local ownership, real estate strategy, brand support, and community demand come together. For people asking, “What is the best Mediterranean restaurant franchise?” Taziki’s belongs in that conversation.
Looking for a Mediterranean Restaurant Franchise Opportunity?
If you are exploring how to open a restaurant franchise, especially in the fast casual, healthy food, or Mediterranean restaurant space, Taziki’s may be the right opportunity to consider.
The Jasper opening is a reminder that the path to a successful new restaurant starts well before opening day. Site selection, lease negotiation, permitting, construction, training, and opening support all take time. If you are thinking about opening a Taziki’s in 2026 or 2027, the best next step is to begin the conversation now.
Reach out to Alex Garmezy to learn more about available markets, franchise qualifications, site selection, and the process of becoming a Taziki’s franchise partner.
Explore Taziki’s franchising opportunities and start your market search today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new Taziki’s in Jasper, Alabama open?
The new Taziki’s Mediterranean Café in Jasper, Alabama officially opened on April 14, 2026.
How many Taziki’s locations are in the greater Birmingham market?
The Jasper restaurant marks Taziki’s 14th location in the greater Birmingham market.
Who owns the Jasper Taziki’s?
The Jasper Taziki’s is locally owned and operated by Jason Rice, with Dustin Beaty serving as co-owner and landlord, and of course, Founder, Keith Richards.
Why is the Jasper Taziki’s opening meaningful?
The Jasper opening is meaningful because it brings Taziki’s fresh Mediterranean food to a historic downtown location with strong local ownership and community support.
Is Taziki’s a Mediterranean restaurant franchise?
Yes. Taziki’s Mediterranean Café is a Mediterranean-inspired fast casual restaurant franchise with more than 100 locations and a menu built around fresh ingredients, grilled proteins, salads, gyros, feasts, dips, and catering.
What makes Taziki’s different from other restaurant franchise opportunities?
Taziki’s combines fresh Mediterranean-inspired food, genuine hospitality, catering opportunities, operational support, and a brand culture rooted in community. The concept appeals to guests looking for flavorful, better-for-you food in a fast casual restaurant setting.
Is Taziki’s expanding in Alabama?
Yes. The new Jasper restaurant marks Taziki’s 14th location in the greater Birmingham market, showing continued growth and demand for the brand across Alabama.
How long does it take to open a Taziki’s restaurant?
While construction can often take 90 to 100+ days, the full process of site search, lease negotiation, plans, permitting, construction, training, and opening preparation can often stretch closer to a year.
When should I start looking for a franchise restaurant location?
If you want to open a restaurant franchise in 2026 or 2027, now is the time to begin your site search and franchise development process.
Who should I contact about opening a Taziki’s franchise?
Prospective franchise partners can reach out to Alex Garmezy to learn more about Taziki’s franchise opportunities, market availability, and the site selection process.