MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes Brings the Beef to Round Rock, Texas

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes will be opening in Round Rock, Texas on July 14, managed by multi-unit MOOYAH restaurant owner Jeff Kullman, and his sons Jason and Josh.
Located at 200 University Blvd, Suite 400 – this is the Kullman family’s fourth location, and their opening marks the 37^th location in the state of Texas. Jeff and his two sons opened their first MOOYAH restaurant in Flower Mound, Texas in 2010, followed by locations in Southlake and Plano in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
“It’s exciting to see how far we’ve come. We initially decided to join MOOYAH after looking at everything they had to offer; it was a simple model that held a lot of value,” Jeff Kullman said. “We were also very impressed by their exceptional Guest service, and frankly the product is delicious.”
Prior to joining the MOOYAH brand, Jeff decided to end his 27-year tenure in the home-building industry and left his position as division president at Kimball Hill in 2009. When the Kullmans began considering business opportunities, Jason came across MOOYAH in an article, which sparked the family to pursue the customizable burger brand.
The family’s success with the brand has been acknowledged since their first opening. The trio has previously been recognized as Franchisees of the Year in 2011 by MOOYAH corporate, and most recently, Operators of the Year in 2014. Their ultimate goal is to open two more locations within the next four years.
“As a brand that was founded in Dallas, it’s exciting to see that there is ongoing demand for MOOYAH in our home state. We have been able to achieve this loyal following thanks to our team of local entrepreneurs that continue to uphold MOOYAH’s commitment to quality food and service,” said Michael Mabry, Vice President of Operations and Franchise Development for MOOYAH. “We’re fortunate to have representatives such as the Kullman family serve more communities across Texas.”
MOOYAH has plans to continue its sustained expansion, and predicts the brand will add over 1,000 jobs to local communities through its restaurant openings in 2014.

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MOOYAH Opens in Morgan Hill, CA

  

When Terry and Brit Ratto purchased Santa Clara County franchise rights for Texas-based custom burger joint MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, the local couple was determined to open their first location in Morgan Hill.

However, convincing the lone star state big wigs at corporate headquarters that South County’s quaint, up-and-coming hamlet was the right spot was no easy task.

“I thought it was absolutely perfect for the community because there’s a real need for it,” said Terry, sitting at a table alongside his wife inside the nearly completed MOOYAH restaurant located at 255 Vineyard Town Center. “Morgan Hill has some really nice restaurants and then fast food chains, but there’s not a lot of options in between.”

The Rattos—who fell in love with Morgan Hill after moving south from Los Altos more than three years ago—will open the doors to their very first MOOYAH locale with a July 14 grand opening. The restaurant hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

“We love this community,” said Brit, a self-proclaimed gym rat who was turned on by MOOYAH’s healthier options of turkey and black-bean veggie burgers along with a variety of salads. “This is a great community. We love it, so we were adamant about opening our first one here.”

The Rattos were so “bound and determined” that they put together a presentation—which included a Google image aerial view of Morgan Hill and the surrounding area—and then flew to Dallas, Texas to convince their corporate partners.

They were given the go-ahead in August 2013 and signed their lease four months later at the 2,100-square-foot site located next door to Starbucks Coffee Company. Terry—who worked the previous 25 years as a commercial general contractor—acquired the proper building and health permits, and they started “Mooooooving in,” as the sign on their storefront reads.

“We’re starting to get more excited each day,” said Terry, an horse-lover who owns nine competition cutting horses at his home that includes a small acreage off Watsonville Road. “Two weeks ago, we were more nervous than excited. But people keep stopping by asking when we’re going to open.”

After opening the Morgan Hill store—where they have employed a local crew of 35 workers—the Rattos plan to open a second MOOYAH restaurant in Los Gatos by December and then a third location in South San Jose.

“We really wanted to hire locally. We’ve got a great crew of young adults,” said Brit, who first had to eat at MOOYAH before allowing her family, which includes four children and six grandchildren, to be part of the franchise. “It had to be a restaurant that I would eat at.”

Brit’s favorite is the veggie burger on a wheat bun (freshly baked daily) with lettuce, tomato and MOOYAH sauce, while Terry’s preference lies in a MOOYAH burger with Pepperjack Applewood Bacon, MOOYAH sauce, lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and fried onion strings as well as a side of sweet potato fries.

“Nothing is pre-made. Everything is made to order,” said Terry, describing MOOYAH as a custom-burger place that provides a fast-casual, family-friendly experience. “Even the french fries, nothing stays more than two minutes.”

MOOYAH, which has its own satellite radio station and short-circuit television channel inside all its locations, welcomes its younger patrons to draw with colored chalk on a “Moodle Doodle Board” while parents wait for their meals. There is a MOOYAH smart phone app and customers can place orders online for pick-up.

The franchise, which opened in Plano, Texas in 2007 and now has close to 60 restaurants, is also known for its 100 percent real ice cream shakes that come in a variety of flavors, including Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, M&Ms, Cookie Dough and Strawberry Banana.

“We strive that this is going to be a great experience for you as a guest and for the people who work here,” said Terry, who also invested in a five-star San Francisco restaurant called Spruce. “We researched different businesses and about a dozen franchises before we visited a MOOYAH in Texas and decided that it was the business for us.”

Scott Forstner is a general assignment reporter who covers education and other community issues for the Morgan Hill Times. Reach him at (408) 847-7158 or via email at sforstner@morganhilltimes.com

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes Finishes Year Strong with Impressive Growth in 2013; Opens 16 Restaurants Globally

Customizable Burger Franchise Brand Heats Up “Better Burger” Industry with a Goal of 44 Openings in 2014 

With consistent growth in 2013, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes (MOOYAH) is prepared to achieve another series of milestones in 2014, eyeing the opening of more than 40 restaurants by year-end. In fact, throughout the past year, MOOYAH opened 14 new restaurants in the United States, while also awarding another two units internationally.

“Our success in 2013 is due in part to a passionate and ambitious team of multi-unit franchisees who continue to build enthusiasm and momentum for the MOOYAH brand,” said President and CEO Rich Hicks. “In order to continue propelling our brand forward throughout 2014, we are looking for prospective operators that possess the experience and enthusiasm necessary for long-term growth with MOOYAH.”

MOOYAH certainly has reason to celebrate. In 2013, the fast-casual “better burger” brand opened a total of 16 restaurants, including 14 in the U.S. and two in Dubai and Bahrain. Furthermore, MOOYAH signed 26 deals in the last year, representing a total of 49 units planned to open.

“MOOYAH’s goal for 2014 is to achieve strategic and international growth, whether developing in existing markets with high demand, or introducing the MOOYAH experience to new territories,” said Vice President of Franchise Development and Operations Michael Mabry. “This twofold strategy, coupled with an exceptional product, will allow MOOYAH to truly assert ourselves as the leader in the competitive burger segment.”

Not only was the 55-plus-unit chain named in USA Today’s Top 50 Franchises for Military Veterans in June 2013, but MOOYAH also earned a No. 8 ranking in Fast Casual Magazine’s annual rankings of the Top 100 Movers & Shakers.

“The dedication of our entire system is responsible for the national recognition we received in 2013,” said Hicks. “We depend on the passion and loyalty of both international and domestic franchisees to continue setting a precedent for MOOYAH as a leader in the  ‘better burger’ segment.”

Reflecting on 2013 alone, MOOYAH has plans to continue its sustained expansion, already predicting that the brand will add over 1,000 jobs to local communities through its restaurant openings in 2014. MOOYAH 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.

ABOUT MOOYAH BURGERS, FRIES & SHAKES

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. In 2014, MOOYAH was named No. 314 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of the top 500 franchise brands, moving up from No. 357 in 2013. MOOYAH was also ranked 1st overall in Restaurant Business’s Future 50 list and was 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.  In 2013, the brand was named “best burger” in its hometown by DallasChild and NorthTexasChild magazines. In the same year, MOOYAH received recognition in USA Today’s Top 50 Franchises for Military Veterans. For more information on MOOYAH, its menu or franchising opportunities, please visit www.mooyah.com. Follow MOOYAH on Twitter @MooyahBurger and connect with MOOYAH on Facebook Fan page.

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