Noon Mediterranean (formerly VERTS Mediterranean Grill and VERTS KEBAP) was an Austin-based fast casual restaurant chain. The company created the world's smallest food truck out of a Smart Car in 2011. In May 2016, it was rated ninth on Restaurant Business Online's list of Top 25 Fastest-Growing Fast Casuals. As of November 2017, Noon had 20 locations in the United States. Noon co-founder Dominik Stein was included on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list under the Food & Drink category in 2017.
History
Verts was founded in 2011 by two University of Texas and WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management alumni, Michael Heyne and Dominik Stein, to recreate popular food from Europe which was not available in America.
In February 2014, the chain announced it would be expanding into Houston. In October 2014, Verts entered an agreement to open three locations in Dallas–Fort Worth. Verts opened its first San Antonio location in September 2015. In December 2015, the company brought in $20 million in private equity, which would be used to expand the restaurant to the east coast. The first Plano location opened in April 2016. Poets & Quants named Verts one of the Top MBA Startups in January 2016.
In September 2016, Verts announced a new location in Center City, Philadelphia, which opened in March 2017. In November 2016, Verts opened a new location in Boston and announced a New York City location. Two more Boston locations were announced in February 2017, and a location in Washington D.C. was announced that March. Also in March 2017, Verts was featured on CNBC's list of 10 hot restaurant brands to watch. In July 2017, Yelp showed that a total of 11 Texas locations were closed, including five in and around Austin, all three in San Antonio, and three in cities surrounding Dallas/Ft. Worth.
In November 2017, Verts was rebranded as Noon Mediterranean.
Noon filed for bankruptcy on August 6, 2018[1] and was acquired by the parent company of Daphne's Greek Cafe on October 7, 2018.[2] Noon restaurants were rebranded as Daphne's in 2019[3] but were shuttered in late July, 2019.[4]
External links
- (archive)
References
- Cole Schotz. New Delaware Chapter 11 Filing – Noon Mediterranean, Inc. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Law, August 7, 2019, retrieved January 4, 2020^
- Danny Klein. Daphne's to Rebrand Noon Mediterranean After Acquisition QSR Magazine, October 17, 2019, retrieved January 4, 2020^
- Daphne's Debuts New Menu Items as Part of Larger Rebranding Efforts franchising.com, April 10, 2019, retrieved January 4, 2020^
- Sarah Blaskovich. Restless Mediterranean restaurant calls it quits in Dallas and beyond Dallas Morning News, July 20, 2019, retrieved January 4, 2020^
- Cleopatra Dessalegn. VERTS gives fresh face to Boston fast casual scene Daily Free Press, November 11, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Kim Bhasin. Behold, The World's Smallest Food Truck Business Insider, October 31, 2011, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Cody Lyon. Verts Kebap turns Smart Car into food trailer Austin Business Journal, October 19, 2011, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Virginia B. Wood. Chain Gangs The Austin Chronicle, March 28, 2014, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Josh Cain. Another Austin restaurant coming to Houston Houston Business Journal, February 25, 2014, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Verts on South Lamar offers St. Edward's students discounts Hilltop Views, February 6, 2014, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Candace Carlisle. Austin-based restaurant Verts lands at 3 DFW locations Dallas Business Journal, October 6, 2014, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Michael Theis. Verts Kebap expands in Dallas, eyes other Texas cities Austin Business Journal, October 6, 2014, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Katie Burke. VertsKebap continues expansion with second San Antonio opening San Antonio Business Journal, September 1, 2015, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Jan Buchholz. Hot restaurant chain plucks $20M from private equity; more expansion planned Austin Business Journal, December 14, 2015, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- VertsKebap Sets Sights on East Coast for 2016 QSR, December 14, 2015, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Gary Dinges. $20 million investment will let Verts Kebap head to East Coast Austin American Statesman, December 15, 2015, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Lauren Everitt. VertsKebap: The $36 Million VC-Backed Mediterranean Street Food Startup Poets & Quants, January 27, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Nathan Allen. Here Are Poets&Quants Top MBA Startups Fortune, January 29, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Ron Ruggless. VertsKebap shortens name to Verts Nation's Restaurant News, March 8, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- VertsKebap Changes Name to VERTS QSR, March 8, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Kelley Crimmins. Austin-based restaurant Verts Kebap opens in Plano Community Impact, April 12, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Nicole Duncan. The Fast Casual Empire in the Making QSR, September 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Michael Klein. Verts, a 'Chipotle of Mediterranean food,' opening in Center City Philly.com, September 8, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Jeremy Quittner. What It Will Take for This Fast-Growing Chain to Become the Next Chipotle Fortune, September 30, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Doug Banks. Fast-growing Mediterranean restaurant chain to open first Boston location Boston Business Journal, October 3, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Rapidly Expanding VERTS Set to Make East Coast Debut QSR, October 11, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Craig Hlavaty. Texas-based VERTS Mediterranean Grill eyes national expansion mySA, October 17, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- The New Kid On The Block, VERTS Is Coming to NYC Total Food Service, November 23, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Kate Taylor. 7 chains that will dominate the restaurant industry in 2017 Business Insider, December 21, 2016, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Dominik Stein Forbes, retrieved January 24, 2017^
- Free food at the new Verts, a fast-casual Mediterranean eatery Philly.com, February 22, 2017, retrieved April 25, 2017^
- David L. Harris. Fast-growing Mediterranean restaurant chain opening two more Boston locations Boston Business Journal, February 22, 2017, retrieved April 25, 2017^
- Michael Tanenbaum. Verts Mediterranean Grill coming to Center City via Austin Philly Voice, February 28, 2017, retrieved April 25, 2017^
- Rebecca Cooper. More Mediterranean coming to D.C., Shake Shack'a latest opening and more reataurant news Washington Business Journal, March 13, 2017, retrieved April 25, 2017^
- Katie Little. 10 hot restaurant brands to watch to spot the next big hit CNBC, March 23, 2017, retrieved April 25, 2017^
- Danny Klein. VERTS Rebrands as Noon Mediterranean QSR Magazine, November 28, 2017, retrieved November 28, 2017^