Former Taco Bell Site Transforming into Mediterranean Restaurant Aida

The former spot is going from offering fast Mexican food to fresh Mediterranean cuisine. New owners Ahmed Mohamed, his wife Amy Mohamed, and Sammy Eldabshoury are preparing their new restaurant, Aida, for a grand opening in mid-February.

Aida will be the team's first restaurant venture and quite a detour from its prior experience. Amy Mohamed worked in the travel industry for many years, while her husband and Eldabshoury are certified public accountants who share a practice in Edina.

So why, in today's economy, would two CPAs and a former travel guru decide to open a restaurant?

"I think we all just wanted to do something different," Ahmed Mohamed told Richfield Patch.

"This is something that I have wanted to do for a while," Amy Mohamed said. "And the space became available. I love the style of the building."

Amy Mohamed will be overseeing the bulk of the day-to-day operations, acting as a sort of general manager. However, her primary focus will be on the catering side of the business.

Mediterranean cuisine often infuses Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern and some African styles, dishes and spices. The restaurant's menu has mostly Middle Eastern influences, and will offer shawarma, gyros, kebabs, falafel and more.

"I'm really hoping that people in Richfield like the style of food," she said. "That was [obviously] one of my worries."

Amy Mohammed is already looking toward the future, with thoughts of eventual expansion.

"I'd love to have a fine dining place with an entirely Middle Eastern theme," she said.