CLIVE, Iowa — Before closing a week ago, Gazali's Mediterranean Cuisine had moved to a half dozen locations across the Des Moines metro since the 1980's, but a move to their location in Clive was the most difficult they'd experienced.
Opened at the Valley West Mall in the 1980s by Gazali's owner M.J. Gazali's mother and brother, the restaurant always had family legacy aspect to it.
"Most of the town, they know who's Gazali's," Gazali told Local 5 on Thursday. "This is our last stop here, and honestly this is the toughest location for us since Gazali's history."
On Feb. 15, the Mediterranean restaurant, which Tasting Table Magazine voted as best gyro in Iowa in 2023, had to close its doors.
Iowa Restaurant Association president Jessica Dunker says recent closures illustrate a trend of "mom and pop shops" being force to shutter their doors.
Dunker also said institutions in the Des Moines metro are faring worse than chain restaurants.
"It was so tough, we didn't have enough patronage to break even, honestly," Gazali said. "We had no choice. You know, so it's heartbreaking."
Difficult access to Gazali's off of Hickman Road made it a challenge to bring in consistent business over the past couple years, and for that reason, they had to close down.
"People fly on Hickman," Gazali explained. "People drive 60 m.p.h., and within a split second, you're missing it. Nobody can notice that place. . . to get inside this parking lot is very tough."
Gazali said his real estate friends informed him the previous four businesses located at the building where Gazali's once occupied also had to close due to a lack of business.
Gazali told Local 5 he has started scouting out a couple locations across the metro to find a home for the restaurant and continue the decades-long business.