Olga Loizon opened her first restaurant in Birmingham, Michigan, in 1970. She created her own recipes in her basement kitchen and used a machine for making Souvlaki meat which her uncle had purchased, and sauce inspired by her mother’s recipes for yogurt.
The restaurant is known for its unique bread, known as Olga Bread.
During the vibrant decades of the 1970s and 1980s, this chain embarked on a journey of expansion, spreading its presence from southeastern Michigan to the bustling streets of Illinois. It wasn’t until 1981 that the chain’s first Floridian outpost was in the Clearwater Mall in the picturesque city of Clearwater, Florida.
With each passing year, their success soared, and by 1985, the chain had accumulated an impressive $22 million in revenue, paving the way for their foray into the world of franchising.
Fast forward to 1992, and the chain had established a formidable presence, with 56 stores spanning across 11 states. They even introduced a groundbreaking prototype store at Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights. Yet, by 1999, their footprint had dwindled to 28 stores across four states, though a steadfast survivor, the St. Clair Square location in Fairview Heights, Illinois, continued to serve its loyal patrons.
Olga Loizon passed away in 2019 but her restaurant chain lives on. As of this writing there are 26 locations, most of them in Michigan.
In May 2023, Olga’s Kitchen delivered hundreds of meals to teachers in Oakland County, Michigan.
Olga Loizon created a charitable foundation for women entrepreneurs who were looking to start or build their own businesses in Michigan. The foundation offers grants of up to $10,000 for those with a business plan.
Olga’s Kitchen maintains a corporate office in Lathrup Village, Michigan.
Olga's KitchenOlga Loizon opened her first restaurant in Birmingham, Michigan, in 1970. She created her own recipes in her basement kitchen and used a machine for making Souvlaki meat which her uncle had purchased, and sauce inspired by her mother’s recipes for yogurt.
The restaurant is known for its unique bread, known as Olga Bread.
During the vibrant decades of the 1970s and 1980s, this chain embarked on a journey of expansion, spreading its presence from southeastern Michigan to the bustling streets of Illinois. It wasn’t until 1981 that the chain’s first Floridian outpost was in the Clearwater Mall in the picturesque city of Clearwater, Florida.
History
With each passing year, their success soared, and by 1985, the chain had accumulated an impressive $22 million in revenue, paving the way for their foray into the world of franchising.
Fast forward to 1992, and the chain had established a formidable presence, with 56 stores spanning across 11 states. They even introduced a groundbreaking prototype store at Lakeside Mall in Sterling Heights. Yet, by 1999, their footprint had dwindled to 28 stores across four states, though a steadfast survivor, the St. Clair Square location in Fairview Heights, Illinois, continued to serve its loyal patrons.
Olga Loizon passed away in 2019 but her restaurant chain lives on. As of this writing there are 26 locations, most of them in Michigan.
In May 2023, Olga’s Kitchen delivered hundreds of meals to teachers in Oakland County, Michigan.
Olga Loizon created a charitable foundation for women entrepreneurs who were looking to start or build their own businesses in Michigan. The foundation offers grants of up to $10,000 for those with a business plan.
Olga’s Kitchen maintains a corporate office in Lathrup Village, Michigan.
