A downtown Grand Rapids restaurant has permanently closed just months after opening.

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Taste of Cairo Permanently Closed Downtown Grand Rapids

In June 2022, Taste of Cairo is opened inside the Ledyard Building at 125 Ottawa Ave. NW in the space once occupied by Electric Hero, which closed in May 2021.

The menu was all vegan and vegetarian. Taste of Cairo specialized in koshery, a popular Egyptian street food made with rice, lentils, chickpeas, pasta, tomato sauce, and spices.

Egyptian Koshery, Facebook
Egyptian Koshery, Facebook
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Owners Dale and Riham Erdman also own Egyptian Koshery in midland, which they opened in fall of 2020.

Why Did Taste of Cairo Close?

The Erdmans shared to Facebook August 24,

Hello everyone we have moved from 125 Ottawa NW Grand Rapids to:
981 S Saginaw Rd
Midland, MI 48640.

Dale Erdman tells Wood TV 8 a main problem was staffing:

We always intended on opening Grand Rapids and then hiring people, training them and have them work it hopefully within a month of us opening, but we just never got the applicants...

According to Wood TV 8, the Erdmans posted hiring announcements online and at their store and raised the starting wage to $12 to $15 plus tips, but still they were not able to hire anyone.

The Erdmans also say the four hour round-trip drive each day from Midland took its toll. They tell Wood TV 8 they attempted to find a home halfway between Grand Rapids and Midland, but couldn't find a residence they could afford.

For now they'll be focusing on their Midland restaurant, but say it's possible that someday they may operate a food truck in the Grand Rapids area.

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