Leslie Turk

Zeus expanding to River Ranch, UL

by Leslie Turk

Zeus Cafe founder Nidal Balbeisi is bringing his popular Greek and Mediterranean concept to River Ranch. Zeus and Subway will share the space previously occupied by Dagwood's Sandwich Shoppe between CC's Coffee House and WOW Cafe & Wingery on Camellia Boulevard. Dagwood's shut down about a month ago, after being open less than a year. The company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April.

Balbeisi says Zeus and Subway should be up and running within two months.

A soft opening is planned Monday for Zeus Express at UL in a new building called On the Geaux, the old Snack Hut at 200 E. Lewis St. (near H.L. Griffin and the new computer science building). "We're gearing up for the fall semester," says Balbeisi, who hopes the UL location will serve as a prototype for Zeus' planned expansion across college campuses in the state.

In the next two weeks, Zeus will add a breakfast menu to its three express locations, including UL, Pinhook at Verot (in the Shell service station), and Johnston Street (the old Popeye's). The menu will feature four selections of omelets stuffed with Mediterranean ingredients and wrapped in a flat pita.