By Mike Hazlip—
Those familiar with the Armenian Grill House in the Birdcage shopping center near Target might have noticed a new restaurant is now open for business at the location.
Although the signage, branding, and menu have changed, Inferno Chicken is owned by the same restaurateur, Naz Salmanyan. Salmanyan says he is restructuring for a younger demographic.
With a menu that included lamb and other types of barbecued meats, Armenian Grill House was becoming costly to sustain in the area, according to Salmanyan. The decline in activity at Sunrise Mall is just one factor Salmanyan says prompted the transition to a restaurant model with less overhead costs.
“Because of Sunrise Mall situation, the rent going up, the price of food going up, it forced us to make a decision,” Salmanyan told The Sentinel in an interview Wednesday.
That decision was to close the grill and reopen as Inferno Chicken. Salmanyan says he is still hopeful to be able to reopen Armenian Grill House in another location. The grill house had earned over 300 reviews on Yelp, averaging 4.5-out-of-5 stars since opening in 2017.
Inferno Chicken offers boneless wings and tenders in seven levels of hotness with “Southern” being the starting point. The hottest flavor is “Hot as Hell,” and at 2,400,000 Scoville heat units, about equivalent to most law enforcement pepper sprays, Salmanyan requires customers to sign a waiver before consuming it.
For those hesitant about signing the waiver, the next hottest is the “Make Me Cry” at over 1 million Scoville units. Eventually, Salmanyan says he plans to hold contests at the restaurant.
The Sunrise Marketplace business improvement district helped Salmanyan through the pandemic with signage and an iron fence that encloses an outdoor dining patio.
“They’re amazing,” said Salmanyan. “From day one, I recommend any local business to really contact them if they ever need assistance. If they weren’t here, I don’t know if I would make it or not.”
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Commenting on the upcoming Raising Cane’s chicken franchise being constructed nearby, he said he doesn’t look at the $1.5 billion restaurant chain as competition, but rather as a way to offer customers more options when dining out.
“I’m excited that they’re here,” Salmanyan said. “I really don’t care if they’re next to me or if they’re above me. Food courts are always amazing.”
Noting other regional food courts, he said having multiple eateries in one location increases traffic for all businesses.
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Despite citing the declining Sunrise Mall as a factor in the decision to close Armenian Grill House, Salmanyan is hopeful that future redevelopment will bring new life to the area.
“I don’t want Citrus Heights to just be a drive-by city,” he says. “I want those golden years back, where that following used to be, this used to be a hot spot. If we could stick to the roots, I’m telling you people will come back.”
Inferno Chicken is located at 5925 Birdcage Centre Ln, Suite 109. It is currently open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed Sundays.
By Mike Hazlip—
Those familiar with the Armenian Grill House in the Birdcage shopping center near Target might have noticed a new restaurant is now open for business at the location.
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