New Mediterranean restaurant opens in Springfield

If there's one thing Abbey Sayegh knows, it's how to make in the competitive world of restaurant ownership. She did it before in Las Vegas, and now the Jordan-native believes she can do it again in Springfield.

Abbey's Mediterranean Cuisine, 1236 Upper Valley Pike, is the first restaurant Sayegh has owned by herself. She spent several years working in Las Vegas at restaurants her brother and brother-in-law owned, so she knows how challenging the business can be.

“I’ve always dreamed to have my own restaurant, and it’s a family business,” Sayegh said. “It’s a dream come true.”

The building that now houses Sayegh's restaurant used to be home to two Mexican eateries, including Mi Jalapeno. Sayegh said she believes the site can be successful with a fresh start.

She remodeled and decorated the interior with a Middle Eastern theme, and envisions the new restaurant as a place where families can sit down for traditional Mediterranean dishes like chicken shawarma, hummus and shish kabobs.

“I just need a little trust from the customers to try my food,” she said. “I’m sure once they try they will be back.”

Overall, the business will have eight or nine employees, including her son Matthew and daughter Merva. It will initially be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and will remain open slightly later on Fridays and Saturdays, depending on the crowds.

The restaurant will likely open a hookah tobacco bar on the restaurant’s outdoor patio once the weather warms next month, Sayegh said.

Sayegh added that the restaurant will soon have a website for additional information.

About the Author