Our Story
timeless, classic Greek
We’re passionate about timeless flavors and legendary service. Our founders knew they had discovered something special from their very first bite of the authentic family recipes that became the foundation of the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. We still serve those delicious Greek dishes. Today, you can find Great Greek Mediterranean Grill locations across the country. Our success is rooted in our passion for great service and the authentic flavors you love. We invite you to discover what makes our restaurants iconic.
A bit of history
Nick Della Penna and Trent Jones were next-door neighbors in a small Las Vegas neighborhood before they ever thought about a business partnership. During Nick’s birthday party in early 2015, the casual friendship took a fortuitous turn.
Trent was a successful Realtor and real estate investor. Previously, he had successfully launched small businesses with his wife, including a photography business and a medical 3D imaging company.
He was closing plenty of real estate deals, but he wanted a new passion. Trent knew about Nick’s 30 years of experience in the restaurant business. He knew he represented the third generation of family success in the industry. After everyone else had left, Trent, Nick and their spouses continued to chat. Trent threw out an idea: Would Nick be interested in opening a restaurant with him?
Nick was starting his new job as a vice president of food and beverage at a leading hotel and casino — the very next day. He was excited to take a top position in the biggest gaming company in the world, right on the famed Las Vegas Strip. He thought it could be the last job of his career.
So, no. He had no interest in opening a brand new restaurant with his neighbor. However, the dream job did not go as planned. The culture wasn’t a good fit, and it wasn’t long before Nick knew he wasn’t in the right place.
He walked over to Trent’s front door, this time ready to launch a partnership. In August of 2015, the neighbors began exploring ideas. They came across a successful Greek restaurant run by a family that wanted to sell. Trent tried the food first and reported back: “Nick, you got to try this place.” Together, they went to the little corner restaurant in Henderson, Nevada, in the suburbs of Las Vegas. They ordered a Four Dip Combo and Greek gyros along with Mom’s rice pudding and baklava ice cream for dessert. It was love at first bite.
Growth and expansion
In January 2016, Nick and Trent took over the first Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. The new partnership worked better than they had anticipated. Nick focused on upgrading the restaurant operations and creating a friendly, vibrant culture for the staff. Trent kept the business successful with back office support. About a month into operating the 1,400-square foot restaurant, they knew they had a special brand on their hands, one capable of serious growth. They began considering a second location. Neither had anticipated launching a franchise. However, after the single restaurant grew into three, they partnered with United Franchise Group to expand the brand even further. Nick and Trent are on their way to operating 10 locations — nine in the greater Las Vegas, Nevada area and one in West Palm Beach, Florida. In mid-2023, 25 franchise locations operated in 12 states, growing to an additional 6 states by 2024 with dozens more openings planned.
Our Food
A Greek-Armenian family first opened the original Great Greek Mediterranean Grill on May 5, 2011. The traditional dishes they served were made with family recipes, passed down through generations in Greece before they were served to American customers.
Nick and Trent haven’t changed the recipes that they first fell in love with. Not by one ingredient. The food served in our casual atmosphere is designed for foodies with discerning palates. We focus on fresh ingredients, spice blends sourced directly from the Mediterranean and sauces and marinades made in-house. To keep our ingredients authentic, we purchased an Eastern European food distributor that was in danger of closing during the pandemic. Our dishes are prepared fresh. Because of their high quality, they’re healthier than most of our fast, casual restaurant competitors. Our consistently great flavors win “Best Of” awards year after year. That includes being hailed as the second-best Mediterranean franchise in the country by Entrepreneur.
Our Vision
In 2016, we took a single restaurant and turned it into the leader of casual Mediterranean dining space in Las Vegas. Our vision is to be the worldwide leader in fast food Mediterranean food. Over the next five years, we see great potential for Great Greek Mediterranean Grill to become a national household name. Most importantly, we want to become the choice for you and your family when you’re in the mood for authentically delicious Greek cuisine. For information about opening a franchise, visit thegreatgreekfranchise.com.
Our Values
We’re passionate about producing consistently delicious Greek food, made with authentic recipes and fresh ingredients. However, we know that without our people, we cannot serve one gyro, nor one slice of baklava. From the start, we cultivated a culture that is grateful for its hard working people. Our ultimate goal is to create a welcoming environment for our customers. We do that by providing high quality customer service. We continually strive to improve the dining experience.
As a company we value:
● Respect ● Honesty ● Helpfulness ● Excellence ● Consistency ● Enthusiasm
