Fourteen months after an abrupt shutdown left regulars wondering what happened to their go-to gyro stop, Petra Cafe is back in action in Germantown. The family-run Mediterranean lunch spot has quietly reopened just across Poplar from its longtime bay at the Carrefour at Kirby Woods. Owner Jamal Douba says the move comes after a last-minute notice to vacate that pushed Petra out by the end of December 2024, keeping the comeback firmly rooted in the same Poplar and Kirby neighborhood where folks have long stopped in for gyros, paninis, and salads.
Why the sudden move
As reported by The Daily Memphian, Douba said Petra was given just 30 days to clear out after the shopping center changed hands and was marked for demolition. That tight turnaround forced the cafe to shutter its Germantown location at the end of 2024 and left customers unsure if Petra would ever return. The paper notes that the space had been Petra’s home base for about 16 years.
Where Petra was — and is now
According to Petra Cafe's website, the former address was 6641 Poplar Ave. in Germantown, where the cafe anchored a corner of the Carrefour for roughly 16 years. After spending a year searching for a suitable replacement, the Douba family ultimately signed a nearby lease so Petra could stay put in the same general area. The goal is to preserve the familiar menu and midday service that built the cafe’s following in the first place.
The new space and permits
Local reporting and planning records indicate that the new lease is at 1789 Kirby Pkwy, a storefront that a certificate of occupancy lists at about 2,490 square feet with an occupant load of 65, per What Now, which cites Commercial Appeal coverage and county filings. The numbers point to a modest dine-in space rather than any kind of major expansion. Owners also posted on social media that they hoped to be back by late February before the doors finally reopened.
What to expect
Douba told The Daily Memphian, “We really stayed right across the street from where we were, so hopefully people will find us very easily now.” With service underway again, Petra is aiming to rebuild its lunchtime rhythm and keep serving the same staples that have drawn customers for two decades. Diners can keep an eye on the cafe’s website and social channels for the latest on hours as the new spot settles into its groove.
