Sammy Mandell (photo courtesy of GAPCo)
Slay some pizza
Greenville Avenue Pizza Company’s owner Sammy Mandell was awarded the first ever “Pizza Today Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.”
Pizza Today is a national publication that covers all things pizza. After submitting a video and giving a speech describing what sets his company apart, Mandell was voted the winner at the Pizza Expo earlier this year.
Mandell is an East Dallas native who opened Greenville Avenue Pizza Company (GAPCo) at 1923 Greenville Avenue when he was just 24 years old. His only experience was as a three-month server at the Casa Linda Chili’s. He made a unique and significant investment in branding the company. He calls its employees pizza slayers. He also designed and patented a holster and pizza cutting tools to better “slay” the pizzas. Mandell even convinced his friend to record a song for the business. The song can be heard as the on-hold music at the Peavy location.
You can check out the company’s creative videos here.
GAPCo made  Fortune’s 100 Fastest Growing Inner-City Businesses and Pizza Today’s Hot 100 Independents list. Mandell emphasized his focus on creativity, retaining staff and outreach to the community.
Feast on Mediterranean food
Wava Halal Grill is bringing Mediterranean fare to 3611 Greenville Avenue, according to Eater Dallas.
The restaurant opened in late March, serving bowls, wraps, gyros and other treats. The affordable food is prepared to Halal standards, ensuring that meat is prepared according to Islamic law. The restaurant will be open until midnight on weeknights and 3 a.m. on weekends. This could be great for the crowds pouring out of the Granada after concerts.
Check out these chicken and waffles
In Mockingbird Station, the owners of Mezze Tapas are closing down the Mediterranean restaurant and opening Brined Southern Kitchen, according to Culture Map. The restaurant, which is on the ground level across from the Angelika, will serve Southern classics like fried chicken and waffles. The owners also own Edith’s Patisserie in Mockingbird Station and Porcino in Addison, which has a similar menu to what Brined Southern Kitchen will have when it opens this summer.
