Mediterranean chain Motek announced this spring that they have plans to enter the New York market, with their first location heading to the Flatiron District this fall. However, the Miami-based brand is looking to expand beyond a single location as they forge a path forward in the market.
The brand is working towards opening four other locations. They are targeting Midtown, the Upper West Side, the West Village and Williamsburg, according to the New York Business Journal.
Husband-and-wife team Charlie and Tessa Levy opened Motek in downtown Miami in 2020. Since then, it has expanded to seven locations in Florida. The New York City location coming later this year will mark the chain’s first out-of-state expansion.
Its menu features Mediterranean cuisine, including steak, kebabs, skewers, falafel, hummus and pita, and appetizers like babaganoush and spicy Greek feta. The design offers nods to Mediterranean roots while aiming to remain fresh and warm.
“I spent 20 years in New York before Miami became home,” Charlie said in a previous release. “Miami is often called the sixth borough of New York, so it’s a natural next step for our brand to expand here. We’ve built a loyal clientele in Florida, and with so many requests to bring Motek to New York, it just made sense to take this leap now.”
The duo is also behind sister brand Yalla Motek, which is also slated to make the leap to the New York market. An exact address is TBA for the fast-casual Mediterranean spot, but it is expected to open in winter 2026.
No opening timelines have been released yet for future Motek spots.
