Lawrence, KS (RestaurantNews.com) Shawarma Press, the nation’s first authentic Shawarma franchise, has been catering events for corporate functions and local businesses for years. Recently, the restaurant location in Lawrence, Kansas, took on a new challenge by providing meals for more than 100 players on the University of Kansas football team. Co-owners Atrooba and Tahima Hashim said it took a little planning and extra help to feed the hungry Jayhawks’ squad.
“We received an order for 115 lunch boxes, and at first I was thinking that 115 shawarmas didn’t really seem like that much,” said Atrooba Hashim. “But once we started assembling the food and packing it, we realized it was a lot of food!”
Atrooba added that she reached out to the Jayhawks’ team nutritionist last year shortly after the restaurant opened. She invited the coaching staff and nutritionists to try the Mediterranean food and they accepted. After sampling the menu offerings, they agreed to reach out before the season started to place an order.
“Some Mediterranean restaurants do not have a lot of grab-and-go options that would work with a busy team,” Atrooba explained. “We prepared authentic chicken shawarma wraps because it’s one of our most popular items.”
Extra hands were needed to assemble the mountains of food, so extra help and even a few family members pitched in to fulfill the order. Atrooba’s sister and co-owner Hashim was on board as well as their mother, who couldn’t resist dropping in to help. It took more than four hours to prepare the food, during which time the restaurant’s walk-in customers had plenty of questions.
“Everyone was intrigued,” said Hashim. “We have a very loyal customer base, and they could tell something big was going on!”
The catering event was especially meaningful to Hashim, a KU alumna, and to Atrooba, currently a student at KU. The sisters confirmed they also have catering orders from student organizations such as the KU Engineering Club, which ordered more than 100 meals recently for a social event.
Located at 947 New Hampshire Street in downtown Lawrence, the restaurant is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The menu features delicious Shawarma made from all-natural chicken and premium beef. Customer favorites include the “world famous” freshly made hummus as well as wraps to please all taste buds, including the spicy Tandoori Press™ Shawarma and the Tex-Mex Press™ Shawarma. The menu also boasts made-from-scratch falafels, fresh soup, salad, protein bowls, and baked pastries. Catering Services are available for all occasions.
Since opening the nation’s first authentic Shawarma franchise with headquarters in Irving, Texas in 2017, Shawarma Press franchises have expanded throughout Texas in Arlington, Denton, Georgetown, Plano, and San Antonio. The brand’s flagship restaurant thrives in the downtown Dallas Arts District while two Georgia locations are operating in metropolitan Atlanta. The Lawrence restaurant marks the brand’s first expansion in Kansas.
About Shawarma Press
Award-winning Shawarma Press is the nation’s first authentic Shawarma franchise. The brand is recognized as one of the Top 100 Movers & Shakers in the restaurant industry and is the winner of multiple Stevie® Awards, highlighting its rapid growth, creative menu development, and leadership in bringing authentic Mediterranean flavors to mainstream audiences. Shawarma Press plans to open as many as 50 locations throughout the country in the next five years. For information about franchising, visit ShawarmaPressFranchise.com.
Contact:
Shawarma Press Media Team
877-776-0250
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