By Sara Beth Williams–
The small restaurant building on Auburn Boulevard once home to Teriyaki Land is preparing to reopen as a Greek fast-food restaurant, with new signage installed on the front reading “House of Gyro and Kebab.”
Interior remodel is ongoing, with the exterior remodel appearing complete. The small building has new red and white paint, and repainted striping in the parking lot, along with new restaurant signage.
While there isn’t yet furniture, floors and a kitchen remodel appear to be nearing completion inside. Construction workers on site said the plumbing had to be completely redone, which caused delays, but the restaurant is near to opening.
Restaurant owner Essy Tork said he hopes to open the restaurant this summer.
The owner told The Sentinel in 2024 that he wanted to open earlier. Construction along the Auburn Boulevard corridor, which has been ongoing for two years and nearly complete according to city officials, has delayed the opening.
The Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project has included major improvements to the corridor, including new sidewalks, landscaping, lighting undergrounding of utilities, upgraded storm drains and signal lights, the addition of new crosswalks, upgraded bus stops, and more.
Due to at least one lane being closed 24/7, many residents and businesses have been negatively impacted by a significant reduction in both foot traffic and drivers willing to endure the construction zones. Numerous residents have complained about the traffic backing up along the boulevard during peak hours of the day.
City officials have estimated the major infrastructure project will be complete this summer.
Teriyaki Land closed in August 2021, according to prior reports. The 1,246-square-foot building was listed for sale in October 2021 for $675,000, but the price dropped by more than $100,000, according to commercial real estate site LoopNet, before the property was purchased in early 2024.
Adjacent businesses to the building include Delish Pizza, Mann’s Liquor, Les Schwab Tire Center, and Romanian Christian Fellowship Church.
Related: Teriyaki Land closes on Auburn Boulevard—Citrus Heights Sentinel
