Burger enthusiasts in Lawton will have something new to drool over, as MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a fast-casual, “better burger” chain is excited to announce the opening of its new restaurant at 6121 Northwest Cache Road on Monday, September 23, 2013. As the second MOOYAH restaurant in Oklahoma, the brand hopes to become a Lawton staple, bringing a delicious dining experience to families, friends and neighbors.
“We’re so excited to expand our presence in Oklahoma and couldn’t be happier to have Tyrone Muldowney as a partner in Lawton,” said Michael Mabry, Director of Franchise at MOOYAH. “His successful history with franchising and his dedication to the MOOYAH experience make him the ideal franchisee to expand the brand’s footprint in the area.”
Muldowney brings a strong background in the food service business to his new venture with MOOYAH. During his first year of college, he purchased Bavarian Bakery from his mother at the age of only 19. The business had two employees and reached $87,000 in revenue in the first year. When he sold it in 2001, the bakery had 48 employees and gross sales of $4.5 million. Muldowney retired from the bakery at the age of 44, and started looking at different investment opportunities. He started buying Atlanta Bread restaurants 10 years ago, and he’s still one of the most successful franchisees in their system. Then, around two and a half years ago, he became a Jersey Mike’s Sub Shop franchisee and opened his second store in Altus, Okla. in May of 2013.
For about a year, Muldowney and his business partner Mark Duncan, D.O. (a local neurosurgeon) looked for an exceptional, family-oriented hamburger restaurant, and felt like there was a niche market for burgers in the Southern half of Oklahoma and North Texas. “We came up with the conclusion that all we have are the fast-food joints in the area, and no one here produces a high-end, quality burger and fries option,” said Muldowney. “We’ve eaten at MOOYAH a dozen times, and we just fell in love with it.”
At MOOYAH, customization is king. Guests have the advantage of choosing from a variety of bread options, such as freshly baked white or wheat buns and hand-crafted lettuce wraps to accompany either the never-frozen 100 percent American beef patty, Jennie-O turkey patty or the mouthwatering veggie burger. Each gourmet burger creation comes with a selection of unlimited veggies and a choice of nine delicious sauces.
MOOYAH French fries come together in a six-step process that takes a total of 24 hours to completely prepare. A delightful combination of constant attention and a little magic help transform U.S. #1 Idaho potatoes into perfect, crisp-on-the-outside and fluffy-on-the-inside fries. Never one to forget dessert, MOOYAH offers handcrafted shakes, allowing Guests to choose from classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate, or opt to make their own creations with toppings such as cookie dough, peanut butter cups and more.
“Our goal is to create better burgers for our Guests by offering fresh, quality ingredients and customizable options. By giving them the power to create their own perfect meal, our Guests leave happy and satisfied,” said Alexis Barnett Gillette, Director of Marketing at MOOYAH. “We hope this new restaurant in Lawton will help the brand develop even further into surrounding areas while also spreading our popularity and awareness throughout the state.”
Seeing incredible growth in 2012 alone, MOOYAH continues its unending expansion, already awarding an additional 29 units nationally and internationally in the first half of 2013, with plans to provide 400 jobs to local communities by year-end. The brand shows no signs of slowing down and aims to deliver a simple American classic that’s not only made well, but produced in a friendly and comfortable environment to new and fresh markets in the future. MOOYAH is currently focusing its expansion efforts in California, Florida and the Northeast.
For MOOYAH franchise information, please visit http://mooyah.com/franchise-info/.
MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes is a fast-casual, “better burger” concept serving mouth-watering made-to-order burgers, hand-cut French fries made from high-quality Idaho potatoes, and handcrafted 100-percent ice cream shakes. Founded in 2007, the Plano, Texas-based company only uses fresh, American lean beef and all-natural Jennie-O turkey burgers, buns baked in house, real cheeses and toppings made from garden-fresh ingredients. It offers online ordering, and a cookout trailer for corporate, social and fundraising events. MOOYAH has been ranked 1st overall in Restaurant Business’s 2013 Future 50 list, listed as No. 8 in Fast Casual Magazine’s annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers in 2013, a list they have been at the top of for several years in a row, and BurgerBusiness included MOOYAH in its list of “11 Burger Chains to Watch in 2011.” The brand was also recognized in USA Today’s Top 50 Franchises for Military Veterans in June of 2013. For more information on MOOYAH, its menu or franchising opportunities, please visit http://www.mooyah.com. Follow MOOYAH on Twitter @MooyahBurger and connect with MOOYAH on Facebook Fan page.
