Mr. Gyros launches fundraiser to reopen after losing store to Greenwood gas explosion

The owners of Mr. Gyros are looking to reopen eight years after a natural gas explosion destroyed their original location in Greenwood.

On March 9, 2016, a massive natural gas explosion took out Mr. Gyros and other businesses along Greenwood Ave.

The owners (and brothers) Sammy and Joni Arsheed are opening their new location at 8537 Phinney Ave N. They’re two years into the project and are nearing the end of their finances, so they’re asking for help from the community by way of a GoFundMe fundraiser.

Destruction following the 2016 gas explosion. Photo from Mr. Gyros GoFundMe campaign

From Sammy, posted in the fundraising page:

Mr Gyros all began in Greenwood in 2003 when it was just my brother Joni and I starting out. Over the years not only did we fall in love with what we were doing but also the community that took us in as one of their own. Over the years Greenwood became our home, our community and the place where we felt we always wanted to be a part of.

All was going well until March 9, 2016 when ours and our small business neighbors dream and love came crashing down. The explosion came and went and with it so did our dream and small business. We always knew we wanted to come back, not because we had to since we had other locations but because we wanted to, because Greenwood had a special place In our heart. As much as we love our other business communities, there was no place like Greenwood- where it all started.

Since there was an empty space in our hearts with the void left from our Greenwood store, we knew that someday we’d come back. A little over 2 years ago we found a beautiful cozy little storefront about 2blocks away from our old location on 85th and Phinney and about the same size as our old store

We figured that this would be the ideal location and we still do, but over the past 2 years we have run into obstacle after obstacle. First it was Covid early on with the permitting side of things, and then we have been forced to parted ways with a couple of different contractors (for reasons not to be mentioned).

And now here we are, we’re close and almost there but the funds have dried up after 8 years of saving up for this moment. We just need some help getting over the last couple of hurdles so the project doesn’t just sit still, and since we’re so close we’re doing everything we can to open up asap. Hoping for an early fall opening, but as it stands we need some help in reaching our goal.”

The GoFundMe campaign’s goal is $25,000—as of July 24, they’re at $2,938.

The Arsheeds still own and operate their other Mr. Gyros locations, including the one in Ballard at 5522 20th Ave NW and their restaurants in Wallingford and Lynnwood.

Photo: Mr. Gyros