Michelle Kaya was reluctant to leave her Michigan home, where she had family, friends and a teaching career. But her husband Ahmet’s job in executive management necessitated a move to central Iowa. Early in the process, he was staying at a hotel near Jordan Creek Town Center. Michelle came to visit, and she wanted sushi.
“It was about 9 or 10 at night, and as we were entering the restaurant, two groups of girls [were] coming from different directions [from] where the sushi bar was, their obvious meet-up place. They were laughing and enjoying the moment,” Ahmet recalled. “Michelle looked at me and said, ‘That would never happen in Detroit.’ That’s when she quickly fell in love with Iowa.”
Ahmet had 30 years in the restaurant business, and both he and Michelle saw an opportunity to open something special in their new community. Ahmet decided to leave his corporate job. In February 2025, the Kayas launched Istanbul Grill Cafe & Bakery, a halal Turkish restaurant at 3281 100th St in Urbandale.
Little Village: Can you share how you decided to stay in Des Moines and set up your restaurant?…