Lubbock business news includes Persian food, restaurant closures, more
Hello A-J readers!
This has been the week of food-related news with two closures and two opening announcements.
The week kicked off with The United Family of grocery stores, which owns Market Street, confirming that self-serve salad bars would be replaced with something new.
"We know the salad bar has been a beloved feature of stores for a long time, but due to a dip in usage over the past few years and our guests' evolving needs, we strive to continually meet these needs," said Joey Marcades, communications manager for The United Family, in an emailed statement.
The popular salad bars have already been replaced in two of Lubbock's Market Street locations.
More: No more salad bars at Lubbock Market Street stores, company explains why
Late Monday brought the news that Hill's Barbecue, 3017 34th St., will close in April. The recognizable restaurant in the former Yellow House Coffee building invited the community to come get a final taste before it is gone for good.
"After months of thought, prayer and going back and forth... we have decided to close Hill Barbecue," the post by owners Andrew and Jewel Hill stated. "We have sat on this decision for a long while now, questioning if it was the right one to make. It is never easy to walk away from something you love as deeply as we love this little business we have created."
More: Lubbock barbecue restaurant announces closing date after 6 years in business
Wednesday, we published an article about an upcoming Persian restaurant. Cyrus Kabob, a Persian-Iranian restaurant, will open in the former Dimbas, which closed in June 2023, at 421 Frankford Ave. later this month. It will be the only one of its kind within 300 miles.
"The only reason he moved here was (for) me and my sister, so we could have a better life," said Sayeh Malekaninejad, one of Cyrus and Tina Javanbakht's daughters. "After, he was trying to find a way to start a business so we can all have a better future. Then he figured out maybe we can open a restaurant, and that's how the whole idea started."
More: Family opening Persian restaurant in Lubbock, here's when, what it will serve
We also began the International Tastes of Lubbock series with a brief overview piece. Make sure you subscribe, so you can read every one of the upcoming features. I have already spoken with two of the businesses that will be featured, and I'm looking forward to meeting with more soon.
I met with Chef Kirk DeLong, who told me about how he is finally getting to achieve his dream after decades of professional cooking. His dream of working for himself will come true in the form of Ziggy's Island Grill food truck. Stay tuned for that article next week.
As always, thank you for reading and supporting the A-J.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock business news includes restaurant closures, openings, more
