The Simple Greek inspired by TV show, opens in Round Rock

Ted Schonauer said he needed to make a change. He was working in the Northeast, and he wanted more time with his family and to live in Central Texas.

“I was tired of my business being 32 hours away from my home, and I was tired of being away from my family,” Schonauer said.

Schonauer, a Pflugerville resident, said he was inspired by a Pittsburgh-based restaurant franchise featured in 2015 on "The Profit," a reality television show in which businessman Marcus Lemonis consults with small businesses to improve their operations and potentially make an investment. The restaurant would go on to be renamed The Simple Greek; its concept would be refined; and the business would be expanded. And on Feb. 13, Schonauer opened his own location in Round Rock.

The Simple Greek offers Greek food in a fast-casual environment. Customers can select a bowl or pita base with salad greens or rice and build their meal from a selection of seasoned meats and vegetables served with a variety of Greek-style sauces and garnish. The Simple Greek's objective is fresh, healthy food sourced locally whenever possible and served to customers within two or three minutes, Schonauer said.

The restaurant chain has four other locations in Texas and 25 total. The Simple Greek got its start in 2004 by Mike Ference and Kathleen Kamouyerou-Ference. The two opened up a pita stand outside Pittsburgh. After attempting a franchise, the couple worked with Lemonis to transform the restaurant into a nationally recognized name.

The Simple Greek process:

• Step 1 Choose your base: Select a hand-stretched, grilled white or whole wheat pita or fill your bowl with any combination of rice, lentils or salad
• Step 2 Choose your protein: Options include gyro, chicken gyro, steak, pork, chicken and lentils and/or rice
• Step 3 Add toppings: Choose from rice, village salad, feta cheese, red onions, shredded lettuce, scallions, lentils, tomatoes, pepperoncinis, cucumbers, garbanzo beans and pitted kalamata olives.
• Step 4 Choose your sauces: Hummus, garlic cream, tzatziki, Greek dressing: A savory pastry of spinach, feta cheese, egg and scallion is wrapped in phyllo dough and baked until flaky.

The Simple Greek 3200 Greenlawn Blvd., Ste. 280, Round Rock 512-489-4976 www.thesimplegreek.com Mon.-Sun. 10:45 a.m.-9 p.m.