INDEPENDENT pizzeria chain Greens is to open a third Belfast restaurant, creating up to 30 jobs, The Irish News can reveal.
Greens, established in 1995, is to open a new branch on the Ormeau Road at the former home of McCormick's grocery store, adding to the firm's existing outlets on the Lisburn Road and at Ballyhackamore.
Greens owner Will Clark told the Irish News the time was right to grow the business again.
"We've been established and trading for in excess of 20 years. We've had success on Lisburn Road and in Ballyhackamore and we feel the time is right to expand our opportunities," he said.
"We took some considerable time in looking at the city to see what was available and where we might go and on the balance the Ormeau Road seemed to be a fairly positive opportunity for us. The Ormeau Road has developed very well. It's a nice part of the world there's no doubt about that and it fits in well with the dynamic we are already dealing with in east Belfast at Ballyhackamore and on the Lisburn Road."
Mr Clark hopes to have a fit-out team on site at the Oremeau Road within the next month, with a view to opening the third Greens Pizza branch to the public by April. The investment, estimated to between £200,000 and £250,000 will also lead to the creation of as many as 30 full and part-time jobs.
"At the moment we've got about 50 people on the payroll, including part-time staff. We would be looking to increase probably by another 25 to 30 people. We'll obviously be taking on full-time people, but by the nature of the business it's a largely part-time workforce."
Looking further ahead Mr Clark refused to rule out further expansion for Greens, not just in Belfast, but across Northern Ireland.
"Three restaurants gives us an opportunity to think about moving forward again. It's not something that is an immediate consideration, but it's absolutely on the cards given a fair wind and given the opportunity."
"My angle always has been to never rule anything out at all. If the opportunity presents itself and if everything stacks up the right way we'll have a go at it," he added.
