Hummus Republic, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant franchise, entered the Springfield market this week with the opening of a new location at 1322 Wabash Ave.
The Springfield restaurant, which is operated by local resident Tini Patel, held a friends-and-family event on Monday followed by a soft opening on Tuesday. Patel said the restaurant will hold an official grand opening sometime in July.
Hummus Republic’s menu features a build-your-own-bowls, wraps and pitas format with multiple hummus options, freshly made sauces and other options such as dolmades and falafel.
The Springfield restaurant is the first Illinois location for Hummus Republic, a California-based chain that includes more than 50 restaurants nationwide. The closest Hummus Republic outside of Springfield is in Indiana.
Patel said she was brainstorming ideas for a new business venture and considered several different restaurant franchise opportunities before settling on Hummus Republic. She felt there was a market for a Mediterranean-themed restaurant in the Springfield area.
Patel said owning and operating a restaurant feels like a perfect fit for her.
“I love to cook, I love people, I love to talk to people,” she said.
The 1,250-square-foot building on Wabash, which previously was home to an Elsa’s Slots, offers seating for 24 diners. Patel said that when searching for a location, they liked the building’s location in the midst of the retail centers along Wabash.
“It’s a midpoint on Wabash,” she said.
The restaurant is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.