Monday marks the grand opening of Duluth’s first Pita Pit at 425 W. Superior St. in the new Maurices building. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. The restaurant will be giving away samples and coupons during the grand opening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pita Pit’s tagline is “Fresh thinking. Healthy eating.” Company spokesperson Monica Hendrickson says the franchise offers a fresh and healthy alternative to fast food. She calls it “faster food” since pitas are made to order, similar to Subway sandwich shops.

The menu includes a variety of grilled meat pita choices, from chicken Caesar to prime rib. There are breakfast pitas, kid’s pitas and vegetarian options such as falafel and spicy black bean pitas. Customers can customize orders, opting for “fork style” (essentially a salad) or adding different sauces, toppings and sides. Rotating daily soups are available, too.

Prices start around $5 for a small pita (or less than $4 for a kid’s) and topping off under $8 for a regular pita. Nutritional content is available online for the calorie conscious. Regular business hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The restaurant will employ about 20 people. In addition to sit down, takeout and delivery (through Food Dudes) options, catering services will be provided, with items like large salads and mini pita platters. Coffee will be supplied by Duluth Coffee Company.

The Duluth Pita Pit is owned by Mike Koski. Minnesota currently has three other Pita Pit locations in Mankato, Brooklyn Park and at Mall of America in Bloomington. If all goes well, Hendrickson says there is a goal of opening additional Pita Pit locations in northern Minnesota. She says the community response has been enthusiastic so far. “People are excited to have another place to eat on this end of town,” she says. “We’re excited to be here and be part of the downtown culture. We look forward to meeting our neighbors.”