MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes is based in Dallas, but as the brand continues to expand and reach new burger fans, the company is looking to the state of Pennsylvania as its next big growth market. The company is fresh off its first in-state opening, a restaurant in Dickson City that is already being embraced by the local community. According to John Valerio, the franchisee responsible for bringing the first MOOYAH to Pennsylvania, the quality of the product made it inevitable they would find success in the state.

“I still remember the first time I visited a MOOYAH location in New Jersey to see what it was all about,” said Valerio. “I absolutely loved the food and the concept itself, and I knew then that the people of Dickson City and the whole state would fall in love as well.”

The Dickson City MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes opened its doors on September 27^th to rave reviews, but the brand did not rest on its laurels. That same month, MOOYAH also signed its first franchisee partner in the Philadelphia area- a region the brand expects to hold multiple restaurants.

Jin Lee, who spent the past 18 years in the banking and financial services industry focusing on small businesses, signed on to open the first of those Philadelphia-area locations and is already scouting potential sites in Montgomery County.

Lee also believes that MOOYAH’s quality will make it a sensation in Pennsylvania, and he understands that overall growth of the brand throughout the state will only strengthen how the name resonates with customers in the area. That is why despite MOOYAH being a new entry to Pennsylvania, Lee is confident they will soon be a household name and that will mean even more success for his future locations in Philadelphia.

“I just love the product, that’s why I chose to partner with the brand in the first place,” said Lee. “Lack of brand recognition can always be a challenge when entering a new market, but with an already successful launch in the state and more development planned, Pennsylvanians are really getting to know the MOOYAH brand.”

While the people of Pennsylvania are just falling in love with MOOYAH, the brand has already been on fire throughout the country in 2017. The company, which just last year celebrated the opening of its 100^th restaurant, is currently on pace for 15 new openings in 2017, with 15 to 20 planned for 2018.

“We are really excited about the opening in Dickson City and the buzz already picking up in Philadelphia following the signing there,” said MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes director of franchise sales Jordan Duran. “If we can keep momentum going in Philly, the hope is that we will sign another five over the next year in Pennsylvania, with a couple dozen more in a few years’ time.”

That growth in Pennsylvania already includes plans to move westward towards the middle of the state and Pittsburgh, though Allentown has specifically caught Duran’s eye as the brand looks to take its next expansion steps.

“Allentown is hopefully next,” said Duran. “The city matches up perfectly with us in terms of demographics where we have seen success. All we need to do is find that right franchisee partner and we will be on our way.”