After running her own location, Katzman helped develop four units across the Bay Area.
From managing a night club and concert venue in Texas to operating fine-dining restaurants in California and Nevada, Loren Katzman knows a thing or two about the hospitality industry. But after spending 30 years learning the ins-and-outs of the restaurant business, Katzman decided it was time for a change.
Scoping out her next move, Katzman set her sights on franchise concepts. In particular, she was impressed by MOOYAH Burger Fries & Shakes (MOOYAH) and their large growth over the years, making her next career move an easy decision. Katzman began working with MOOYAH in early 2012, and that same year, she opened her own location in Walnut Creek as a way to showcase the brand in California. Since then, she has helped develop a total of four units across the Bay Area.
“My husband and I had looked at other franchise concepts, but we chose MOOYAH because of our positive experience with the brand,” Katzman said. “We fell in love with the food, service and concept immediately after visiting their headquarters in Texas. We knew the second we left that this was the place for us.”
Katzman explained that her transition from long-time restaurant owner to first-time development agent for MOOYAH was a natural one.
“It’s a fun challenge,” Katzman said. “Throughout my entire career, I’ve always focused on customer service and quality. The things that drew me to MOOYAH were things that I already encompassed every day for the past 30 years.”
Currently, Katzman is targeting the city of Novato in Marin County, Calif., as the next lucrative opportunity for a future MOOYAH location. She believes there are many more places throughout the Bay Area that are untapped and need a quality restaurant like MOOYAH.
“MOOYAH offers things that many other places don’t have. We’re a safe, kid-friendly environment, we offer healthier, better-quality alternatives than many other fast-casual restaurants, and we appeal to many active and health-conscious guests in the area,” Katzman said. “The growth opportunity around here is huge because our client-base is so vast.”
Within the next year, Katzman is hoping to open two more restaurants, and she’s eyeing cities like Vallejo and Fairfield in Solano County, Calif., and Livermore, Fremont, and Dublin in Alameda County, Calif. Looking ahead to the next five years, Katzman said she’d ideally like to have 10 more locations up and running.
“We’re always getting requests from guests at our Walnut Creek location to bring MOOYAH to their hometown,” Katzman said. “I think that in itself says a lot. We’ve built a reputation on quality food and great customer experiences. Those are the two things that set MOOYAH apart.”
