A Carmichael restaurant dropped “Russia” from its name. Why he had to rename again

A Carmichael restaurant that dropped the word Russia from its name shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine recently found it had to change its name again. – at the height of its meaning. “I’m lucky to have this restaurant,” said owner Alexandru Sirbu. “Even with all that.” Sirbu and his family have owned the restaurant since 2018. He is in the neighborhood, however, since 2009 he has been doing business as “Firebird Russian Restaurant“. That was until early March, shortly after Russia attacked Ukraine. “They thought we were supporting the Russians,” Sirbu said of the hateful phone calls, online comments and criticism the restaurant received. “So we changed the ‘Russian.’ “We have Romanian, we have Moldovan, we have Belarusian, we have Ukrainian…Russian…Armenian food,” he said. The East.” Then the restaurant ran into another problem. Sirbu said an East Coast restaurant chain with a similar name claimed it already had rights to the “Firebird” name, the reached out and asked him to change the name of his restaurant. That’s when the new name ‘Noroc’ came about. Vince Langley and his family stopped by for dinner on Wednesday to support the local family business that has been through the pandemic and now two name changes in a few months We noticed the name change and wanted to ns supporting the local business that is nearby,” Langley said of Noroc, which is just two blocks from his home. “I give them a lot of credit for surviving those tough times.” Meanwhile, Sirbu is trying to stay positive through it all and focus on what he and his team do best: serving Eastern European food to his community of supporters.” it’s a good change because that’s what really represents us,” he said of the restaurant’s second name change. “After that, everything will be easier.” Noroc is located at 4715 Manzanita Ave. in Carmichael. The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.
A Carmichael restaurant that dropped the word Russia from its name shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine recently found it had to change its name again.
The owner of what is now Noroc restaurant in Carmichael hopes his business’s new name – the Romanian word for luck – lives up to its meaning.
“I’m lucky to have this restaurant,” said owner Alexandru Sirbu. “Even with all this [happening].”
Sirbu and his family have owned the restaurant since 2018.
It’s been in the neighborhood, however, since 2009 it’s been doing business as “Firebird Russian Restaurant”.
That was until early March, shortly after Russia attacked Ukraine.
“They thought we were supporting the Russians,” Sirbu said of the hateful phone calls, online comments and criticism the restaurant received. “So we changed the ‘Russian’. We wanted to show Ukrainians our support.”
Calling itself simply “Firebird Restaurant”, Sirbu felt it better suited the Eastern European cuisine they offer.
“We have Romanian food, we have Moldovan, we have Belarusian, we have Ukrainian…Russian…Armenian food,” he said. “So it’s Eastern European food.”
Then the restaurant ran into another snag.
Sirbu said an East Coast restaurant chain with a similar name claimed they already had the rights to the “Firebird” name, contacted him and asked him to change the name of their restaurant.
This is when the new name “Noroc” was born.
Vince Langley and his family stopped for dinner on Wednesday to support the local family business which has weathered the pandemic and now two name changes in a matter of months.
“We noticed the name change and we want to support the local business that’s nearby,” Langley said of Noroc, which is just two blocks from his home. “I give them a lot of credit for surviving those tough times.”
Meanwhile, Sirbu is trying to stay positive and focus on what he and his team do best: serving Eastern European food to his community of supporters.
“I hope it’s a good change because that’s what really represents us,” he said of the restaurant’s second name change. “After that, everything will be easier.”
Noroc is located at 4715 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael. The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.