CONCORD, CALIFORNIA – A prominent downtown Concord restaurant space that has been empty for more than a year is getting a new tenant.
Sultan’s Kebab is preparing to open at 2151 Salvio Street, taking over the former Lima restaurant space across from Todos Santos Plaza. The restaurant’s website now lists the Concord address as “coming soon,” while Visit Concord has also announced the impending opening.
Sultan’s Kebab has not posted an exact opening date, although published reports indicate the restaurant could be ready within two to three months. That would put its likely debut sometime this fall, assuming construction and permitting remain on schedule.
The Concord restaurant is also expected to include a patio, an especially valuable feature at this location overlooking one of the city’s busiest public gathering places.
A Familiar Name for East Bay Diners
For many Contra Costa County residents, Sultan’s Kebab will not be a new name.
The locally grown restaurant group already operates a Danville location at 480 San Ramon Valley Boulevard, along with restaurants in Pleasanton, Livermore and downtown Campbell. A second new location is also planned for Saratoga, bringing the company’s Bay Area footprint to six restaurants once both openings are complete.
The restaurant specializes in Turkish and Mediterranean food, with a menu built around charcoal-grilled kebabs, shawarma, kofte, falafel and other dishes served as plates, wraps, salads and rice bowls.
Meat options include chicken, beef and lamb, while seafood and vegetarian choices provide a fairly broad menu beyond the restaurant’s signature kebabs. Other offerings at existing locations include hummus, mezze, Turkish breads, baklava and garlic feta fries.
Sultan’s Kebab says it serves 100% halal meat.
Owner Fatih Ulas describes the restaurant as a tribute to his late father, Sultan Ulas, whose cooking and Turkish heritage inspired the concept. The business traces its history to 2002, although the current group has grown considerably more quickly in recent years.
The Danville restaurant opened in 2017, followed by a larger Livermore location in 2023. The company subsequently expanded to Campbell and is now preparing to enter both Concord and Saratoga.
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Filling the Former Lima Space
Sultan’s Kebab will inherit a restaurant space with a significant local history.
Chef John Marquez opened Lima at Salvio Pacheco Square in late 2016, bringing Peruvian ceviche, seafood, cocktails and other dishes to the prominent downtown location.
The restaurant remained open for nearly nine years before closing permanently on Dec. 31, 2024. At the time, Marquez told ABC7 News that rising operating costs and expenses associated with settling a discrimination lawsuit over a “Ladies’ Night” promotion had contributed to the decision.
Lima’s departure left one of the most visible restaurant spaces around Todos Santos Plaza vacant.
Sultan’s Kebab will bring a considerably more casual concept to the property, with an established takeout and catering business in addition to dine-in service. Published plans call for the Concord restaurant to operate daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The location should put it in a strong position to capture foot traffic from Todos Santos Plaza, which hosts farmers markets, concerts, festivals and other community events throughout the year. The restaurant is also within walking distance of Concord BART and several downtown parking garages.
For local diners who already know Sultan’s Kebab from Danville, the new location will provide a second Contra Costa County option. For downtown Concord, it will put a long-vacant and unusually prominent restaurant space back into operation.
A firm opening date has not yet been announced.
