I can’t help but be amazed at the popularity of the gyro in Trinidad. It is the new craze and the new crave. The gyro seems to be producing more offspring than a rabbit on fertility pills. What was a novelty that you had to go some distance to acquire is now at every corner. The Avenue in Woodbrook should be re-named Gyro Strip. St. James may be better called St. Gyro.
As far as I know, the gyro has reached Central Trinidad and Tobago. I can’t speak for the other areas of Trinidad as I have not ventured there in a long time but I have a great feeling that they have not been left out.
My bewilderment of the gyro phenomenon heightened on Saturday night when I passed Grand Bazaar. On that adjacent strip known for burgers, I saw a neon sign reading “Gyro”. It got me thinking of what was causing this great love affair for the gyro.
Being in the advertising business, when a brand is successful, we think of things like strategy or equity or affordability or quality. Our national street-side dish, Doubles, wins because of the price and location. KFC knows how to titillate our appetites and get us to the cash register. Coke has been here forever. We know Coke. We trust Coke. Mr. Gyro is a new kid on the block. He does not advertise but for a sign in front of the cart. Mr. Gyro is not always in the best location, but customers go out of their way to have him. A gyro cost at the minimum, $25. That is not cheap. So what is the secret? I doubt that it is only the taste. Enlighten me someone. What is the gyro mojo?
26 October, 2011, 4:38 am
Eric, I think it’s a combination of it being seen as exotic food, so an affordable luxury. Like oysters. There is also the relative novelty compared to alternatives like roti or KFC or Mario’s or Wendy’s. The biggest factor I think though is that the gyroists have cracked the code. Last time gyros were here they operated mainly from “indoor” and likely more expensive retail outlets in terms of rent. Now they operate from the pavement mostly, rent free or at less cost. That means they can put more into the food and into your hands. Do you see how much meat some of them pack into their gyro? So great value for $25. So Eric for me it’s about value and exotica.