Panini Kabob Grill (PKG) is embarking on a major expansion. The Southern California-based Mediterranean restaurant is planning to open a new eatery on the Las Vegas Strip within Fashion Show Mall at 3200 S Las Vegas Blvd, according to QSR Magazine.
Construction is underway at the new Las Vegas PGK, which is expected to open later this year.
What Now Las Vegas reached out to Panini Kabob Grill founder and entrepreneur Mike Rafipoo to find out more about the exciting new opening and ongoing expansion plans. Unfortunately, we did not hear back by the time of this publication.
“At Panini Kabob Grill, we believe in taking the time to prepare every dish to order using fresh, high-quality ingredients,” the Panini Kabob Grill website reads.
“Our talented team works hard every day to create delicious Mediterranean meals in our scratch kitchens, so you can enjoy a dining experience that is always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying.”
Rafipoor founded the Panini Kabob Grill in 1977, opening its first 1,300-square-foot location in Corona del Mar, California, under the original name “Panini Café.” Rafipoor later added “kabob” to boost kabob sales and included “grill” because both paninis and kabobs are prepared on it. From day one, the concept relied on preparing everything fresh daily in-house, including sauces, dressings, hummus, and tzatziki, without using pre-sliced, frozen, or off-site prepared ingredients. Rafipoor, who was heavily into fitness and nutrition in the 1990s, wanted to establish a preservative-free kitchen serving wholesome Mediterranean food using antibiotic- and hormone-free proteins and organic produce.
Remaining unfranchised and company-grown, the Southern California-based chain continued to grow. There are now at least 30 Panini Kabob Grill locations operating across the United States, primarily centered throughout California,spanning Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, the Inland Empire, and Kern County, with expansion underway into new markets like Las Vegas.
PGK was first introduced to the Las Vegas market through the Louis Ave ghost kitchen and virtual food hall setup known as Lucky 3 Food Co. It operates as a pickup and delivery hub for various food brands, including delivery-focused operations for major chains like Taco Bell and Hawaiian Bros.
Now embarking on opening a full-service eatery, excitement continues to mount for the upcoming Las Vegas Panini Kabob Grill opening.
Panini Kabob Grill is anticipated to open on the Las Vegas Strip within Fashion Show Mall at 3200 S Las Vegas Blvd later this year.
(This is a developing story. As more information is made available, we will update this article. Stay tuned!)
