Three years after arriving at the Independence Mall food court, Baba Ghannouj Mediterranean Bistro soon arrives at a second location, this one near the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Opening of the restaurant at 351-29 South College Road, near University Landing Mall, is planned before Thanksgiving Day – probably next week – Baba Ghannouj owner Jamal Haddad said.

Like the quick-service mall food court shop, the latest Baba Ghannouj offerings will include Greek salads, gyros, fattoush, tabbouleh and chicken, lamb and beef shawarma, Haddad said. The 1,560-square-foot space seats 50 guests inside and about 10 guests outside, Haddad said.

When the mall store opened in November 2010, Haddad said he planned two additional, full-service Baba Ghannouj restaurants in Wilmington. One was to open in summer 2011 and the other at that year’s end.

A slow economy delayed plans, Haddad said.

The South College Road address, which previously hosted PolarBerry self-serve frozen yogurt shop, appealed to Haddad because it is in a busy shopping district that grabs nearby university students as well as tourists driving into Wilmington, he said.

Haddad said he’ll look next, probably in 2014, at the Mayfaire Town Center area. His sights are set on Greensboro and Goldsboro, too.

Haddad already owns Baba Ghannouj locations in Cary, Raleigh and Durham.

Baba Ghannouj restaurants operate under what Haddad called “license agreements.” Independent operators comply with Baba Ghannouj menus and standards, he said.