Nearly 10 months after leasing its facility to Chipotle Mexican Grill, King David’s Restaurant reopened Sept. 17 on Marshall Street.

The Middle Eastern restaurant was a campus fixture for more than three decades before the economy caught up to it last November.

‘The restaurant business is a struggle,’ said Charlie Hatem, owner of King David’s. ‘Leasing to Chipotle was a golden opportunity.’

Hatem said he never planned to go out of business, though. Initially, he searched for a new location within the city, but there was no comparison to the building he already owned, and the clientele had become so accustomed to the restaurant throughout the years.

Three weeks before King David’s reopened, Hatem, his family and a few longtime employees began hanging rugs on the walls, beads on the windows and ornate lamps from the ceilings in the space directly above Chipotle, where Unique Tea House used to be.

‘We hope that people will realize that there are two great establishments to eat at under one roof,’ Hatem said.

Business during the first week back has been a little slow, Hatem said, probably because they had a soft opening. Regulars are returning every day, though, as they notice the sign on the door and the large mural depicting dueling pharaohs painted on the side of the building, signaling a new presence upstairs, he said.

Hatem said he is considering holding a grand opening for King David’s some time this week or next, once word of the reopening has spread.

Now that the Marshall Street location has reopened, Autumn Szlamczynski, a nurse at Syracuse University’s Health Services, can pick up grape leaves, hummus and sweet potato fries. Ever since she returned from a trip to Israel 15 years ago, the choices have been her favorite.

‘It’s a little smaller, but it’s nice,’ she said of the new location.

Szlamczynski got her King David’s fix at the restaurant’s Fayetteville location, owned by Hatem’s brother, Nader, during the Marshall Street hiatus.

The brothers and their family worked together in Fayetteville for several months, so Hatem never missed a beat when it came to food.

The new dining area is significantly smaller, seating 36 customers, Hatem said. The downstairs location allowed for 100 patrons at once. Hatem said he doesn’t mind much because they could barely fill 50 seats during dinner as business began to flounder last autumn.

Kitchen space is a bit tighter now, too.

‘I’d much prefer a bigger place, just something I gotta get used to,’ said Anthony Beebe, who has been working for Hatem for the past five years.

The new King David’s will be focusing on deliveries and to-go orders. They hope to be a part of Campusfood.com and the Off Campus Meal Plan again soon, Hatem said. A student-only coupon will also be distributed throughout campus.

Only a few items had to be removed from the menu due to space limitations and long cooking times. That includes regular customer David Lebowitz’s favorite, broccoli pie. But he quickly found a replacement in the new setting: spinach pie.

‘The restaurant’s essentially the same — still delicious,’ said Lebowitz, a Syracuse resident.

King David’s patrons are usually about 65 percent Syracuse area residents and 35 percent students, Hatem said. He is excited about the new location’s potential appeal to more students.

‘We’re probably the only restaurant in the city that has a great view of campus,’ said Hatem, pointing out to Crouse College and the Hall of Languages from the window. ‘It almost seems like you’re sitting outdoors, European style.’

Gizelle Ortiz-Velazquez, an SU alumna who returns from Miami every few years, agreed with Hatem.

‘At the end of the day, what I like is the quality food, and it’s as good as ever,’ she said.

Velazquez, who had not been back since King David’s vacated its old location, said that it was as if the restaurant never left.

But Beebe, the employee, took up a job at Taco Bell in the Carousel Mall while the restaurant was closed. He said the chain’s food is not even on the same level.

‘I’m excited to be back, and I’m happy for Charlie,’ Beebe said.

Most of the décor, food and staff that were at the old location have come back with King David’s. Hatem said he is even considering bringing back some old favorites.

Said Hatem: ‘We used to have belly dancers … maybe if I could get one or two in here, that’d be nice.’

sfanelli@syr.edu

Published on September 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm