Pita Delite franchise owner John Ridenhour made the decision last fall not to renew his lease in University Commons on South College Road in Wilmington and then to relocate to Landfall Shopping Center.

Ridenhour said the move was prompted by a lack of parking and increased turnover in the shopping center.
 
“After 15 years in that location, I felt it was time for a change,” Ridenhour said.
 
Now, four months later, he has opened the doors to the new location, Unit BB at 1319 Military Cutoff Road, offering many of Pita Delite’s bestsellers as well as some new menu items.
 
The updated menu features a variety of new ingredients, including fresh spring mix lettuce, garbanzo beans, new spreads and cheese blends, jalapenos and a gluten-free wrap.
 
Just as at the previous location, customers will place their orders at the counter in front of the open kitchen, where line cooks will prepare their food to order.  Ridenhour said he likes this layout because it allows customers to customize their meals, and for he and his staff to interact with them as their food is being prepared.
 
“We have the busiest location of all the Pita Delites in the franchise,” John Ridenhour said. “And our president, Kamal Dergham, credits much of that to our interaction with our customers and our positive, energetic environment. I know 75 to 80 percent of my customers by either their name or their order, and we want to make every customer feel like this is their home away from home.”
 
The small franchise was founded in Greensboro and is comprised of six units, four in Greensboro, one in High Point and the Wilmington location.
 
The dining room layout is similar to the previous location, with seating for and a self-serve beverage station. A catering menu is available and delivery for off-premise catering will be available as soon as the new location is fully staffed.
 
“The response so far has been incredible, and we’ve gotten lots of positive feedback,” Ridenhour said.
 
Pita Delite is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 
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