As homecoming weekend made its return to Ohio State this year, a familiar restaurant on High Street did the same. After a long wait, the Pita Pit re-opened on Oct. 12.

“We did whatever we could to get open that Saturday,” said Brandon Brown, co-owner of the Pita Pit.

The Pita Pit originally came to OSU in 2000, but made a quick exit in the spring of 2001. A fire began in the basement, came into the kitchen of the Pita Pit and caused a large amount of smoke damage. Brown said he practically had to rebuild the entire store.

“I didn’t know where to eat after it was gone,” said Jeff Ellis, a senior in chemical engineering. “No other place on High Street makes food as delicious as their pitas.”

After more than a year after the fire and still no pitas, many students like Ellis wondered if the Pita Pit was ever going to return. It was all just a matter of time.

Along with friend Derek Stein, Brown became the new owner of the Pita Pit. The change in ownership was the main reason for the delay in re-opening. Because of the change, the City of Columbus required the store to get a number of new permits, such as zoning permits. There were some construction problems which also delayed the re-opening.

Brown said they wanted to make the Pita Pit like a brand new store.

“It’s the same food and everything, but to me it’s a cleaner look,” Brown said.

One of the changes made to the Pita Pit is a second table added behind the counter, which is used as a pita making station, in hopes of speeding up service – the original store had only one table. There are plans to add seating, which was absent from the previous store. Brown said he hopes to add four tables, which should seat eight to 10 people.

Brown said since opening a month ago, business has been great.

“We’ve gotten a such a warm welcome,” he said. “The students have been wonderful.”

Pita Pit received “such a warm welcome” on its opening night that it had to stay open until 5:30 a.m., which is two hours longer than it is regularly open.

Brown said on the Saturday the Pita Pit re-opened, a campus bar even announced over the public address system that it was open.

“The kids just went crazy,” Brown said. “We couldn’t have asked for anything else.”

Brown said what attracts students to the Pita Pit is that it’s a clean and fun atmosphere that offers healthy eating.

“It’s different. It’s not a sub, and it’s not pizza,” Brown said.

Customers can even go to its Web site, pitapit.com, to build their own pita and see how many calories it has.

“I love the Pita Pit because their pitas are tasty and make a great meal for lunch, dinner or even to satisfy the late-night munchies,” Ellis said.

The Pita Pit isn’t just a great place for students, but also for employees, said Liz Orient, junior in consumer affairs and Pita Pit employee.

“It’s so much fun,” she said. “They’re always having a good time, and yet they get the job done.”

When asked what the future may hold for the Pita Pit, Brown was optimistic, to say the least.

“We’ll be here forever,” he said.