Clarkston-born Mediterranean chain Pita Way is lining up its next move, with a new outpost planned for St. Clair Shores. The fast-casual shop is slated to take roughly 1,620 square feet in the redevelopment of the former St. Mary’s Nursing Center site just east of Mack Avenue on E. Nine Mile Road. Founder Brandon Bahoura has told reporters he is aiming to open the doors by April of next year.
The redevelopment of the former nursing home surfaced in a recent commercial listing and was first reported by What Now Detroit, which notes that the new Pita Way is expected to share the small plaza with Chipotle and Panera. The outlet also reports that the nursing home shut down about six years ago, no official unit address has been released yet, and it has reached out to the company for more details.
What Pita Way Will Serve
The concept sticks to the formula that has built its fan base: customizable pitas and bowls, plus sides like chips, tenders and fries. According to Pita Way, the company now lists about 50 open locations with roughly 10 more in development, and it traces its start back to Clarkston in 2010.
Growth Pattern And Local Placements
The St. Clair Shores plan fits Pita Way’s broader expansion playbook across Michigan and nearby states, where it has been taking smaller-footprint spots in neighborhood plazas. Commercial real estate coverage shows brokers such as Michael Murphy of Gerdom Realty recently representing the brand on deals, including a 1,400-square-foot lease in Lansing, reported by REBusinessOnline. That mix of compact space and busy retail corridors has become a familiar pattern for the chain.
Timeline And What To Watch
No firm address or construction schedule has gone public yet, so neighbors should first see permit filings and signage before any crews show up. The St. Clair Shores City Council agenda lists multiple planning items and public hearing requests set for mid-June; those appear in the city’s May 4 agenda at St. Clair Shores City Hall. Local coverage, including the original What Now Detroit report, is expected to carry the confirmed opening date and exact address once they are set.
For people cruising the Mack and Nine Mile corridor, the plaza buildout would mean one more fast-casual option and a local snapshot of a bigger trend: Mediterranean concepts expanding through smaller store formats. City filings and corporate updates from Pita Way will show whether that April target holds.
