1851

When <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/keylan-mitchell-mpa-6a86aa93/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisees-keylan-and-erika-mitchell-mooyah-burgers-fries-shakes-georgia-2716263" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Keylan</a> and Erika Mitchell began looking for a franchise brand to invest in, they were looking for more than a business; they wanted the ability to enrich their community with employment and mentorship opportunities for young people just starting out in their careers. That’s exactly what they found with <a href="https://franchise.mooyah.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisees-keylan-and-erika-mitchell-mooyah-burgers-fries-shakes-georgia-2716263" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MOOYAH Burgers, Fries &amp; Shakes</a>, the 84-unit better-burger franchise based out of Plano, Texas.&nbsp;The Mitchells, who are opening Georgia’s first <a href="https://1851franchise.com/mooyah">MOOYAH</a> location this year, intend to use their business to support local schools, youth development programs and charitable organizations across their community.We spoke to Keylan and Erika to learn more about their experience with MOOYAH.<h4>1851 Franchise: Tell us about your background. What did you do before franchising?</h4>Keylan Mitchell: I grew up in Rockmart, Georgia, a small town. I graduated from high school there and went on to get a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing and management from Piedmont College. I earned my Master’s in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. I spent my professional career as a public administrator working with local, state and federal government agencies to develop public-private partnerships that help low-income people become more economically mobile. I look forward to transferring my extensive experience in marketing, community relations, partnership development and strategic planning to our MOOYAH store.&nbsp;Erika Mitchell: I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. I earned a BS in accounting from Syracuse University and an MBA (concentration in finance and strategy) from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. My professional career includes experience in the audit and M&amp;A practices at a large global professional services firm. Currently, I work in the nonprofit sector as a finance and operations executive. I also have experience consulting with start-up businesses on finance and operating-related matters.Keylan: We will have been married for eleven years in October.Erika: One of our favorite pastimes is fishing. We also enjoy volunteer work and civic engagement in our community. We lead a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site at our church, mentor children and young adults and serve as board members for several non-profit organizations.&nbsp;<h4>1851: How did you hear about MOOYAH Burgers, Fries &amp; Shakes?&nbsp;</h4>Keylan: We have been looking for entrepreneurial opportunities in the restaurant industry. We began doing research and looking at our community and there wasn't a fast casual “better burger” concept like MOOYAH anywhere. We thought it would be a good fit for the community. &nbsp;<h4>1851: What about franchising with MOOYAH Burgers, Fries &amp; Shakes appealed to you?&nbsp;</h4>Erika: We visited the closest MOOYAH in Birmingham, Alabama and thought the food was delicious. We really liked what we saw in terms of the fun, family-friendly atmosphere and design of the store so we reached out to Corporate in Plano, Texas. We have been extremely impressed with the support we have received from MOOYAH’s corporate staff and how the brand has navigated the pandemic. The commitment to making sure stores did not close and the fact that new locations opened at the height of the pandemic shows the strength and innovation of the brand. The high-quality, non-GMO product including never frozen 100% certified angus beef, artisan buns baked in-house daily, hand-cut fries and real ice cream milkshakes is part of what really drew us to MOOYAH. The Lifestyle Menu is also amazing and we’re excited to be bringing more healthy options to Mableton.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What makes Mableton, GA a good market for MOOYAH Burgers, Fries &amp; Shakes?&nbsp;</h4>Erika: We have lived in Mableton for over 10 years and we know the community very well. Often we find ourselves traveling outside of our community to find quality dining options. In addition, friends and neighbors often talk about a lack of quality food options in our area so we are opening a MOOYAH to be a part of the solution.&nbsp;Keylan: There are a lot of families with kids here. It is a well-resourced area and it doesn't have enough appropriate options to service the community. Mableton is full of diverse, friendly, hard-working people who care about their community. It is also close to the airport, downtown Atlanta, Atlanta Beltline Westside Trail and the Silver Comet Trail.&nbsp; It is about 20 to 25 minutes outside of Atlanta and very accessible to Midtown, Buckhead and Cumberland. There are parks and other amenities such as the Barnes Mable House Amphitheater in the area and the area is really growing residentially. We believe the brand will excel here and in other parts of Cobb County. We thought it would be a great opportunity to make this investment and be a catalyst for other high-quality fast casual brands to invest in the area as well.&nbsp;<h4>1851: Do you have plans to open more locations?</h4>Erika: We definitely have plans to open more. Keylan and I are “go-getters” and have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. We work well together and feed off of each other’s strengths. We are excited about opening our first location but are always thinking ahead about future locations and opportunities.Keylan: We have plans to expand to at least three to five locations within the next five to seven years. We would like to expand to other parts of Metro Atlanta.&nbsp;<h4>1851: What do you hope to accomplish with your business?</h4>Keylan: We want to partner with the community and get involved with local schools, youth athletics and nonprofits. We really want to invest in the area in that way and invest in our employees. Some of our employees are going to be young people who are just beginning their careers. We want to be a place that teaches great customer service, work ethic and employment skills that they can have for the rest of their lives. We want to be able to offer career guidance and mentorship to make sure young people get a great start in their careers.We just feel that this investment can really help improve the quality of life in our community by being a community gathering spot. As we begin to be more social after the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic we think it’s more important than ever for our community to have the best burger, fry and shake experience anywhere!&nbsp;&nbsp;ABOUT MOOYAH BURGERS, FRIES &amp; SHAKES:<a href="https://www.mooyah.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisees-keylan-and-erika-mitchell-mooyah-burgers-fries-shakes-georgia-2716263" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">MOOYAH Burgers, Fries &amp; Shakes</a> is a fast-casual, “better burger” concept offering mouthwatering made-to-order burgers, french fries hand-cut from Idaho potatoes, and real ice cream shakes. Founded in 2007, the Plano, Texas-based company serves fresh, 100% Certified Angus Beef® brand burgers, all-natural Jennie-O® turkey burgers and Dr. Praeger’s black bean vegan burgers. MOOYAH's non-GMO potato and multigrain buns are baked in-house daily, and Guests can choose from five real cheeses, bacon, avocado and 20 free sauces and toppings made from garden-fresh veggies. MOOYAH Guests can choose from seven flavors of 100% real ice cream shakes, including vanilla, Hershey’s chocolate, Reese’s, Oreo and more. While many Guests dine in-restaurant, MOOYAH also offers online ordering, delivery and carry out for Guests on the go as well as a loyalty app. In 2020, MOOYAH ranked No. 38 on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers. In 2018, MOOYAH was ranked among Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 200 Food and Restaurant Franchises of 2018 and landed at No. 7 in the Top 10 Fast Casual Restaurant Franchises by FranchiseRankings.com. In 2017, MOOYAH was named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, Franchise Times' Fast &amp; Serious list of the smartest growing franchise brands, and was ranked #11 on Fast Casual Magazine’s annual Top 100 Movers &amp; Shakers, a list the brand has been included on every year in the last ten years of rankings. For more information on MOOYAH, its menu or franchising opportunities, please visit <a href="http://www.mooyah.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisees-keylan-and-erika-mitchell-mooyah-burgers-fries-shakes-georgia-2716263" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.MOOYAH.com</a>. Connect with MOOYAH on Facebook.com/MOOYAH, follow MOOYAH on LinkedIn, Twitter @MOOYAHburgers and Instagram @MOOYAHburgers.

The Great Franchisees: Keylan and Erika Mitchell, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, Georgia

1851 Franchise

The community-oriented franchisees will use their business to support local schools and youth development programs.

the-great-franchisees-keylan-and-erika-mitchell-mooyah-burgers-fries-shakes-georgia

Pigtails & Crewcuts

Pigtails & Crewcuts Leadership Team Brings Over 70 Years of Experience to the Table

Pigtails & Crewcuts Leadership Team Brings Over 70 Years of Franchise and Child-Focused Industry Experience to the Table

pigtails-crewcuts-leadership-team-brings-over-70-years-of-franchise-and-child-focused-industry-experience-to-the-table

Dog Training Elite

How Dog Training Elite Helps Individuals With Mental Health Challenges

Training Support That Makes a Difference: How Dog Training Elite Helps Individuals With Mental Health Challenges

training-support-that-makes-a-difference-how-dog-training-elite-helps-individuals-with-mental-health-challenges

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Turn Your Passion for Helping Others Into a Profitable Business With TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise

turn-your-passion-for-helping-others-into-a-profitable-business-with-trublue-home-service-ally-franchise

Right at Home

Right at Home - What To Expect at Right at Home's Discovery Day - 1851 Franchise

What To Expect When Attending Right at Home’s Discovery Day

right-at-home-discovery-day-what-to-expect

Woodhouse Spas

Photo of exterior sign reading "The Woodhouse Day Spa"

How Woodhouse Spas Franchisees Secure Funding Through Preferred Lending Partners

woodhouse-spas-franchise-funding

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

McDonald’s To Hire 375,000 Workers as It Prepares for Major U.S. Expansion

mcdonalds-to-hire-375000-workers-as-it-prepares-for-major-us-expansion

Subway Pushes Global Growth Despite U.S. Closures 

subway-pushes-global-growth-despite-us-closures

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Steve & Mia Kim & Paris Baguette logo

After Falling in Love with Paris Baguette, This North Carolina Couple Decided To Open One of Their Own

paris-baguette-franchise-charlotte-nc

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

Franchisee Spotlight with Huanyu Li and Paris Baguette Logo

A Longtime Love for Paris Baguette Led Huanyu Li To Open One of Her Own

a-longtime-love-for-paris-baguette-led-huanyu-li-to-open-one-of-her-own

Franchisee Spotlight with Micki Waters and Papa Murphy's Logo

Work Mom: How Micki Waters Became a Mother Figure to Her Entire Papa Murphy’s Team

work-mom-how-micki-waters-became-a-mother-figure-to-her-entire-papa-murphys-team

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Top 20 Cleaning Franchises to Invest in for 2025

top-cleaning-franchises-to-invest-in

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

The Great Franchisees: Keylan and Erika Mitchell, MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, Georgia

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS