The Georgian fast-food chain “Tsitsila” has opened a new branch on Marjanishvili Street, which has already been operating for one month. Until now, the company served customers exclusively from its initial location on Kostava Street. According to the company, the launch of this second branch marks the successful completion of Tsitsila’s first expansion phase.
As co-founder Mariam Markhulia told BM.GE, opening a second branch on Marjanishvili was a natural step following the consistently high demand and heavy workload at the Kostava Street location. Before committing to expansion, the company had tested a seasonal branch on Mtatsminda, which operated temporarily but closed at the end of the season. Afterward, Tsitsila began working on establishing a full-scale, permanent second location.
Markhulia explained that the Kostava branch reached its sales peak and has maintained that level for over a year, providing a strong financial and operational foundation for expansion.
“The Kostava branch has fully stabilized and reached what we can call its sales peak, which we have sustained for more than a year. This strong demand encouraged us to consider opening a second branch,” she said.
Finding the right location for the new branch turned out to be one of the most time-consuming and important steps. According to Markhulia, selecting the space took nearly 10 months, as the right location is critical for a fast-food business.
“We needed a very busy area with offices, educational institutions, and primarily Georgian customers. Fortunately, we found an ideal spot on Marjanishvili, right across from the Nodar Dumbadze Theater,” she noted.
The company invested approximately GEL 200,000 into the new Marjanishvili branch. The space initially required full renovation; however, construction, interior setup, and staff recruitment were completed within a short timeframe.
Tsitsila currently employs around 50 people. The company is fully focused on in-house production—everything from bread and sauces to meat processing is handled internally at Tsitsila’s own facility.
“We have not raised prices, even though ingredient costs are constantly increasing. It is important for us to keep our sandwiches affordable for customers, though this is increasingly challenging for the business,” Markhulia emphasized.
Regarding future plans, the company is currently prioritizing the stabilization of the new Marjanishvili branch and further improving the quality of both existing locations. Still, expansion remains on the agenda. Tsitsila is considering opening its third branch in 2026, with plans to move beyond the city center to better serve various districts of Tbilisi and reach a wider audience.
