Alabama Restaurant Group Closes 2 Popular Eateries

Pihakis Restaurant Group shutters Tasty Town and Hero franchise locations in Birmingham area.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 1:09pm

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The Birmingham-based Pihakis Restaurant Group abruptly closed two of its restaurants - Tasty Town, a Greek restaurant in downtown Birmingham, and a Hero franchise location in Hoover - on the same day, leaving the local foodie community with questions about the group's future plans.

Why it matters

The closures of these two popular restaurants are indicative of the ongoing challenges facing the restaurant industry, especially smaller regional chains, as they navigate changing consumer preferences, economic conditions, and operational complexities in the post-pandemic landscape.

The details

Tasty Town, which opened in 2022, and the Hero franchise location in Hoover, which opened in 2023, both shuttered on Sunday, April 12, 2026. A Pihakis spokesperson cited the 'ever-changing landscapes of economies and operations' as the reason for the difficult decision to close the restaurants, stating the group is working to 'restructure in the smartest way to ensure sustainability' of its beloved brands.

  • Tasty Town opened in 2022.
  • The Hoover Hero location opened in 2023.
  • Both restaurants closed on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Pihakis Restaurant Group

A Birmingham-based restaurant group founded in 2014 by restaurateur Nick Pihakis, who also co-founded the Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q chain. The group operates several popular restaurants in the Birmingham area, including Rodney Scott's Whole-Hog BBQ, Joyland, and Hero locations.

Nick Pihakis

The founder of Pihakis Restaurant Group and co-founder of the Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q chain.

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What they’re saying

“Closing restaurants is always a tough decision and navigating the ever-changing landscapes of economies and operations is extremely difficult in the best of times. We care about our employees and the strength of our brands and are doing our best to restructure in the smartest way to ensure sustainability.”

— Angie Mosier, Pihakis Restaurant Group spokesperson

What’s next

Pihakis Restaurant Group has stated it is working with consulting support to 'forge a path forward' and maintain its other beloved restaurant brands in the Birmingham area, including Rodney Scott's Whole-Hog BBQ, Joyland, and Little Donkey.

The takeaway

The closures of Tasty Town and the Hoover Hero location highlight the ongoing challenges facing the restaurant industry, even for established regional groups like Pihakis. As consumer preferences and economic conditions continue to evolve, restaurant operators must be nimble and strategic to ensure the long-term sustainability of their brands and hospitality offerings.