The Purple Onion — not officially open — is hiring and serving customers
More than two years have passed since diners learned that The Purple Onion would claim the former Bojangles location on Rainbow Drive. Now the restaurant is opening — though not yet officially, according to social media posts from its corporate office.
The restaurant opened for business late last week and took a respite Sunday, with a sign on the door indicating the eatery would open again on Monday. And customers were being served Monday, but a Facebook post noted that the franchise is not "officially open yet" and continues to hire employees.
Just last week, General Manager Parice Tiska was interviewing crew members, ironing out details, and training.
The Birmingham-based company announced the new store in May 2020, two months into the pandemic. Delays followed: The franchise was purchased by a local owner and then sold back to corporate. Hiring a crew was difficult.
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Tiska was excited to get the doors open to the Mediterranean restaurant, to offer a different dining option to people in the area. The menu includes wraps, salads, pita rollups, shawarma, falafel, etc., and side orders ranging from fries and onion rings to mushroom, broccoli and tabouli. There will also be burgers, including kid-friendly offerings of chicken fingers and burgers for youngsters whose palates might not be as adventurous.
The restaurant offers breakfast all day, with burritos and omelettes, along with egg sandwiches, and egg and cheese sandwiches with sausage or bacon. The Purple Onion will offer six kinds of sub sandwiches and six desserts — including a baklava pie.
And they have wings. "People rant and rave about how good the wings are," Tiska said.
Tiska lives in Rainbow City, and she said local crew members were being hired to work at the Rainbow City store. There won't be a crew brought in from another restaurant to open.
Tiska knows people have been excited about the prospect of the new restaurant and have had a long wait since The Purple Onion paint scheme and sign went up.
Rainbow City Mayor Joe Taylor — and a multitude of Facebook enquirers — have eagerly awaited news of the restaurant's opening.
Taylor said it seemed the franchise was greatly affected by COVID and by hiring challenges. "We tried to be understanding, and long-suffering," Taylor said.
He said he's pleased to see the new dining option coming to Rainbow City to accommodate its residents and those in the surrounding area. "There's really nothing like it around here," he said.
Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Purple Onion: New eatery is opening slowly, working to get fully staffed
