Yum Grills & Market, an elevated fast-food concept from Philadelphia, is planning a major expansion across the city.
Founded by Shamikh Kazmi, the eatery debuted its first location on Jan. 10 at 1135 Vine St., taking over the former Shell gas station just steps from Noto. It’s quickly becoming a go-to spot for late-night bites after a night out.
Yum Grills & Market isn’t just a restaurant, it also doubles as a convenience store with a curated selection of food and drinks. Some locations even feature gas pumps for customers on the go.
“We have one which is obviously already operational,” Kazmi told What Now Philadelphia. “We have five under construction, which will run us through Q1 and then starting Q2, we’ll be opening five to seven a month.”
The planned locations include 1850 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., 934 Main St. in Darby, 3201 Ridge Pike in Eagleville and 1636 Old York Road in Robbinsville, NJ, all featuring fuel services, according to The Philadelphia Business Journal.
Kazmi said the selection of ideal locations will be “highly targeted” based on the market.
“We’re going to take it by market. The idea behind it is we’re going to allow the market to dictate what needs to happen. If the market desires two across the street from each other, it will be two across the street. We’re going to target this on a needs basis,” Kazmi said.
He continued, “I think the market is so ripe. The demand for the product that we’re selling is phenomenally great. I’m really excited that this brand really targets what the market needs and is doing it the right way.”
The menu includes smash burgers, Nashville chicken sandwiches, cheesesteaks, wings, loaded fries with beef or chicken, chicken tenders, and platters such as chicken or lamb over rice.
“We’re not using frozen meat. We’re not sourcing the stuff internationally, everything is locally sourced. The quality and taste of the product is second to none. That’s what really excites me because we really put together a program that allows consumers to obtain their desires in a very luxurious setting,” Kazmi said.
Crave-worthy food pairs with equally crave-worthy drinks. The shop offers milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream, strawberry and Cookie Monster flavors. Refreshing options include the “Cucumber Crush,” a mix of cucumber, mint and fresh lemon; the “Yum Sunrise,” with orange, grenadine and sparkling soda; and a frozen piña colada.
Yum Grills & Market is also gearing up to hit the road with a food truck, generating plenty of buzz on social media about where it should park.
The plan is to continue operating corporately for now, with franchising on the horizon. Curious if a Yum Grills & Market will be opening near you? Visit the website and follow along on Instagram as the brand grows.
