Today we’d like to introduce you to Emad Shatara.
Emad, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up watching my parents build this together. My dad, Sami, came to this country as an immigrant with a CPA accounting degree and a strong work ethic, never imagining food would become his life’s work. My mom brought her falafel recipe from the early 1990s, and that recipe became the heart of everything. Back then, they were serving gyros out of a small beer and wine store with a deli inside, off Wealthy and Ethel in Grand Rapids. There was no grill, just a rotisserie slowly turning all day.
The falafel was made at home using my mom’s recipe. We made it as a family, flash froze it, and brought it in ourselves. It wasn’t the textbook way, but it was done with care and love. That’s what locked in the flavor people still talk about today. When someone says we have the best falafel in the city, they’re tasting something that started in our kitchen decades ago.
Over the years, my dad built and ran Sami’s Gyro and later retired after spending time at the Pita House. Retirement didn’t last long. Turns out sitting still wasn’t for him. At the end of 2017, he and my mom decided to make a small comeback, just the two of them, because retirement was boring and they missed cooking for people. We joke that it was his Michael Jordan comeback tour, except instead of sneakers, it was gyros and falafel.
It was never just them. We grew up in it. Before school, after school, weekends, holidays. We learned responsibility and pride by watching our parents work side by side and figure things out as immigrant parents doing their best with what they had.
When Tasty Gyro became what it is today, the name was new, but the heart was already there. Family, hard work, patience, and love. Every plate we serve carries a little bit of that history, and we’re grateful to share it with the same community that’s been with us from the beginning.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In 2020, COVID tested us like it did everyone. With all of our jobs on hold, our family came back together to help my mom and dad keep the doors open, staying open with carryout only and doing whatever it took. We didn’t lean on loans or handouts. We strapped our boots, showed up every day, and worked the way small business owners always have. That grind brought new life into the business and helped it grow. Then another curveball came when a big red car wash went up in front of our parking lot and blocked us from the road, making it easy to drive right past us without even knowing we’re here. People still tell us they didn’t know where we were or who we were, and honestly, we get it. So we adapted again, leaned on social media and our community, and kept showing up. If you find us in Grand Rapids, chances are you won’t forget us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We’re a family-owned Mediterranean restaurant in Grand Rapids known for fresh-carved gyros, bold flavors, and food that’s made with intention. Everything we serve is built around consistency, quality, and doing things the right way, not the easy way. Our menu is simple, focused, and built to deliver every time.
What sets us apart is how hands-on we are and how much pride we take in the details. We show up every day, work as a family, and let the food speak for itself. Even with limited visibility from the road, our community continues to find us and support us. Once you find Tasty Gyro, you don’t just try it, you remember it.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Mom and Dad
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tastygyroconeyisland.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tastygyro?igsh=dWhtenhsdTd3aXJm&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GLyWpsGRD/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tastygyro?_r=1&_t=ZP-93Ht157ubyp
