As the sun sets on the 10-year anniversary of the MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes in Plano, Texas, the brand is celebrating the remarkable journey of the face behind the restaurant — Franchise Owner Marci Khordehforoush. Over the past decade, her MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes location has become a beloved community staple, providing delicious food for local events, offering first jobs to many teenagers and fostering a family business that has grown and thrived.
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Khordehforoush, a former teacher with a knack for leadership, wasn’t initially looking to buy a restaurant. “We were always very fond of MOOYAH,” she said. “But I was not originally looking to buy a restaurant. I was a teacher and I was looking to start a school, but at the last minute we changed our minds because of how much we loved the concept.”
In particular, the decision to pivot from education to entrepreneurship was driven by Khordehforoush’s love for the brand’s commitment to quality.
“MOOYAH is delicious, and it’s very high quality,” Khordehforoush said. “It was very important for us to choose something that we trusted and could recommend to others. We love the taste, freshness and quality of MOOYAH, and that it has options like gluten-free and vegetarian. We love it for our family, and we love introducing our friends and neighbors to the brand.”
Officially, MOOYAH is a “better burger” concept, but that categorization doesn’t do the brand justice. MOOYAH has created the best burger, the type you might find at a fine-dining restaurant, if those establishments allowed guests to fully customize their burgers with a nearly endless combination of options. And unlike the stuffy, expensive restaurants people often associate with elevated burgers, MOOYAH provides a fun, accessible, family-friendly environment where guests can relax and enjoy themselves.
That family-oriented nature of MOOYAH resonated with Khordehforoush, as well, who has involved her entire family in the business.
“The whole family is involved in our business — my husband, my son. My kids have grown up here and it’s the kind of business that everyone can be involved with and help out in,” she said. This sense of family extends even beyond her own, as she has created a warm and welcoming environment for her guests and team members alike.
When it comes to the reasons behind her success, Khordehforoush’s leadership skills have been instrumental. “I was always a leader, always taking charge in business, so what I love about working with MOOYAH is the family feel and the support from the corporate team. It makes me feel confident,” she said.
This confidence, coupled with the support from the MOOYAH team, has been a driving force behind their long-term success. MOOYAH has refined its operational model to ensure Franchise Owner success, starting with a low-cost buildout that lets Franchise Owners get up and running for a fraction of the cost of competing franchises. From there, MOOYAH offers Franchise Owners ongoing, dedicated, personalized support in every aspect of the business, from real estate selection to marketing to technology and profit-and-loss guidance. All of that means a better-running business, a faster return on investment and a brighter, more profitable future for Franchise Owners.
As she looks to the future, Khordehforoush is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. “With a new mall opening near us, we hope that there will be an opportunity to introduce people to MOOYAH,” she said. “We want our store and MOOYAH to be the first choice that comes to mind when people are looking for catering or choosing where they want to eat. We want to be the place our community knows and trusts.”
The investment to develop a MOOYAH ranges from $477,918 to $989,793. The franchisor is also offering royalties relief to Franchise Owners who sign both a franchise agreement and lease in 2023. For more information about MOOYAH and franchise opportunities, please visit https://mooyahfranchise.com.
