When the aromatic allure of Tzatziki's Mediterranean cuisine mingles with the magnetic charm of Eric Williams, you're in for an episode that tantalizes more than just your taste buds. Join us as Eric shares a tale that weaves together the zest of Greek flavors with the warmth of community spirit. He takes us behind the scenes of Tzatziki's, a local gem that sprouted from a Grecian adventure and blossomed into an over 100-store sensation, all while staying true to its roots of fresh, mindful cooking. Whether you're a local Atlantan or a passerby with an appetite for authenticity, let the story of Tzatziki's remind you to cherish the local flavors that stitch the fabric of our neighborhoods together.
When the aromatic allure of Tzatziki's Mediterranean cuisine mingles with the magnetic charm of Eric Williams, you're in for an episode that tantalizes more than just your taste buds. Join us as Eric shares a tale that weaves together the zest of Greek flavors with the warmth of community spirit. He takes us behind the scenes of Tzatziki's, a local gem that sprouted from a Grecian adventure and blossomed into an over 100-store sensation, all while staying true to its roots of fresh, mindful cooking. Whether you're a local Atlantan or a passerby with an appetite for authenticity, let the story of Tzatziki's remind you to cherish the local flavors that stitch the fabric of our neighborhoods together.
Speaker 1:
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Stacey Risley.
Speaker 2:
Hello friends and neighbors, welcome to North Atlanta's Good Neighbor Podcast. Today we're here with Eric Williams. He is with Tzatziki's Mediterranean at the Sandy Springs location here in North Atlanta. So hi, eric, welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:
How are?
Speaker 2:
you.
Speaker 3:
You know what it is. A delight to be here. Stay safe.
Speaker 2:
We are so happy to have you on. Well, and with that, go ahead. And, eric, if you will tell our listeners about your business, tell us about Tzatziki's, about your business.
Speaker 3:
Tell us about Tzatziki's. Okay. So Tzatziki's Mediterranean started out after Keith and Amy Richards took a trip to Greece and experienced firsthand the phenomenon of small table Mediterranean cafes, the intimacy of people sitting together and enjoying each other's company God forbid right and enjoying food together and having that experience. So that's something that they brought back and wanted to do themselves. So they set it up in Alabama and now we have over 100 stores. Over 100? Wow, well, so they set it up in Alabama and now we have over 100 stores. How many stores Over?
Speaker 2:
100.
Speaker 3:
Wow, you know they're opening one here in Don's Creek in Georgia and also one in Tennessee pretty soon, so they're doing really good. 25 years of business is not bad.
Speaker 2:
I wouldn't say not, and I love Mediterranean food.
Speaker 3:
So I'm waiting for you to ask me about that.
Speaker 2:
Well, here we go. So tell us, Eric, tell us about your journey into this business.
Speaker 3:
Okay. So basically I was just looking for opportunity and I found that if you go out looking for it, it will find you. So after a few months, they told me, after I started, that I would be good at marketing because I have the gift of hair and how to talk to people and understand those dynamics. And so I never asked for marketing, it just came to me. And here I am about a year later and having a great time talking to you guys.
Speaker 2:
Wonderful, and so this is specifically for the Sandy Springs location. But there are to Ziki's like how many Georgia locations do you guys have?
Speaker 3:
So there's in Atlanta, there's Swanee, Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Athens, Kennesaw and then Jones Creek later this year, probably mid-year, yeah, but of we have several stores all over the states Tennessee, Nashville but we're always expanding. We have the potential to open most of the party stores just in the minor areas. It's just such a booming area here.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it really is. Yeah, Well, and Sandy Springs is right in the heart of our you know our reach with the North Atlanta Good Neighbor podcast, so we're happy to have you on Any myths or misconceptions about the restaurant industry, or about Taziki's more specifically, are there any myths or misconceptions that you would like to clear up with our listeners today?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, there's a couple. There's a couple. So it's definitely not fast food. It's definitely not fast food. Everything is made quite meticulously and with purpose. We have an open kitchen so that our guests can get the full experience of what we're doing, and there's no fryers or microwaves or anything like that. So you know that's one of the misconceptions it's actually good for if you live longer. So way different. That's one of the misconceptions is that it's actually good for you if you live longer. So way different, way different.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it sounds different. I can't imagine going into a restaurant that doesn't have microwaves, so that's wonderful.
Speaker 3:
I know I use my home all the time.
Speaker 2:
That is awesome. Well, so let's take a minute away from work. What, Eric, are you doing for fun when you're not working? Okay?
Speaker 3:
you can find this quite ironic podcasts. I'm trying to get on more podcasts as comic relief, and then I also write music and have done that for 30 years. That that's enough information 30 years I've been doing music and and at some point I think I missed it this year, but I'll go see Hamilton.
Speaker 2:
You'll go see Hamilton.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I really do want to do that and do a TED Talk. I'm going to do a TED Talk, sure?
Speaker 2:
There you go. Podcast, a TED Talk.
Speaker 3:
Hey, I'll start somewhere and just keep going. I guess.
Speaker 2:
That's right, oh my goodness. Well, so 30 years in music and you want to go see Hamilton, those are good goals.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I watched it on Disney+. I won't watch it, but I would love to see it live. Honestly, yeah, yeah, I would love to see it live.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, yeah, I would love to see that too. Well, so making getting more a little more serious on this topic. But, um, have you had any life hardships or challenges that you have faced that you can say now, for having been through that experience and come out on the other side, that you're stronger or better for that today?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, so I'm glad you asked that. I was kind of a latchkey kid, growing up from a single parent family, so my mom was working all the time and my dad wasn't there, but that kind of affected me in a certain way for most of my life. But I was able to better myself and because of that I'm really passionate about helping other people I try to. My philosophy is when I go somewhere, even if it's Walmart, it doesn't matter where I go. I want to make it better than when I first got there. So that is my whole mentality. You know, understanding comes from experiencing. So, based on what I've experienced, I don't want other people to have the same thing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, well, that's a good philosophy to have, you know, be a little bit better every single day and make someone's day a little bit better than I think we're doing pretty good.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely.
Speaker 2:
I love that. You know what you shared about the founders having, you know, actually gone to experience this firsthand, and that's what they brought that passion back to to to start their you know, the restaurant.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:
But anything else that you would like to share with our listeners about Tzatziki, but anything else that you would like to share with our listeners about taziki.
Speaker 3:
so what I wanted to you know. Going back to misconceptions, firstly, I wanted to just throw out there that we did ask an expert, someone who is from greece and who pronounced euro, and we pronounce Euro Ye-ro. That you know a lot of. I needed to be corrected on that. I was not saying it right, so I want to throw that out there. So if you come to see us, just be like hey, Eric, you got to say it right, it's Euro. But I also want to say that there's a certain word in Greece, in ancient Greece specifically, that they used, and it's called eudaimonia and it means Wait, hold on.
Speaker 2:
I've got to stop you, eric. Hold on, that was a word I've never heard before. So did you say eudaimonia? Is that correct?
Speaker 3:
Yes, it's like euda-man, except eudaimonia.
Speaker 2:
Eudaimonia. Well, you just are teaching me a new word. I can't wait to hear what it means.
Speaker 3:
It took me a week to be able to spell it much less pronounce it.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, this is not a spelling bee, thank God.
Speaker 3:
Thank God, thank God.
Speaker 2:
What does euda-monia mean?
Speaker 3:
It just means human flourishing, it means living the good life and we're all about. We have this compass and it says create, make, can stay fresh, pay attention to details, collaboration and challenges. So that's a big part of our philosophy and I'm going to pitch something really cool at you. It's a slogan. I'm trying to get the trademark. Are you ready for it? And I'm going to pitch something really cool at you. It's a slogan I'm trying to get the trademark. Are you ready for it?
Speaker 2:
I'm ready.
Speaker 3:
So Tzikis is where good food brings good people together.
Speaker 2:
Oh, that's great. That's a good headline.
Speaker 3:
I wrote it on a napkin and sent it to myself. Okay, so wait, hold on.
Speaker 2:
Tzikis is where good food and good people come together.
Speaker 3:
I like yours better actually.
Speaker 2:
Wait, was that not right?
Speaker 3:
I said where good food brings good people together. But you should be in marketing.
Speaker 2:
I happen to be in marketing you are in the right place.
Speaker 3:
Carry on, oh my goodness, no, but that's great I love that, that you said it.
Speaker 2:
That, uh, eudaimonia. Like I'm loving that I learned a new word too and I don't have to spell it. But that means you said that means flourish, just human flourishing. Human flourishing yeah.
Speaker 3:
It's more complicated than that, but that's just a rough translation. You know what?
Speaker 2:
I mean, Well, we all definitely want each other to flourish and that's what what this podcast is all about is helping small businesses in North Atlanta flourish. So I really appreciate having you on today and you coming and sharing with us about Tzatziki's, and I really do love the whole basis of it all that it's all about bringing good food and good people together. That's nice, yeah it's.
Speaker 3:
It's pretty great. I would have to say I'm not biased at all. I work at Tzatziki's, but I still, just as an individual, feel that it is pretty great.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, well, it sounds pretty great. I'm gonna have to check it out myself. So you, if listeners want to reach out and they want to learn more, what's the best way for them to get in touch?
Speaker 3:
So you can actually find us at tazookiescom for the menu locations near you, online ordering and catering, gift cards, employment and franchise opportunities.
Speaker 2:
So if you're wanting to start your own to ZKeys, you can also get to their website as well.
Speaker 3:
I will come work for you for a week, if you do.
Speaker 2:
That's perfect. Well, thank you so much. It's really been a pleasure having you on the show today, eric, thanks absolutely. The pleasure was all mine well, that's all for today's episode. Atlanta, I'm stacy risley with the good neighbor podcast.
Speaker 1:
Thanks for listening and for supporting the local businesses and non-profits of our great community 770-946-7007.
