There are lots of places to grab a burger or a slice of pizza. But how many quick, casual places can serve up a flatbread?
That's why business owner Bassam Sares is opening
Sandella's Flatbread Caf� this month in Charles Village � and not your local greasy spoon.
"I was looking for a healthy concept in that area," Sares says.
The franchise currently has 19 locations throughout the U.S. but the store at 3202 St. Paul Street will be the first one in Maryland. And Baltimore City could get a second Sandella's. Sares is eyeing the Mount Vernon neighborhood for another location.
Sares declined to say how much he is spending to open the store but franchisees pay between $150,000 to $250,000 in a new restaurant, according to the corporate office.
The 1,400-square-foot restaurant's flatbread includes the Brazilian Chicken Grilled Flatbread and the Pesto Chicken Grilled Flatbread. It also sells paninis, wraps and salads that cost around $7, with a side order and drink.
"It's something new and healthy," Sares says of the flatbreads. "There are too many pizza places and too many burger joints. We need something new and healthy. I think this is the new thing."
The neighborhood appealed to Sares because it holds a mix of residents and students. It's also been his home since 1993, when he moved to Baltimore from New York.
"It's a very nice neighborhood," Sares says. "It's a safe neighborhood. It's full of life and action."
Source: Bassam Sares, Sandella's Flatbread Cafe
Writer: Julekha Dash