MOOYAH Fires Up the Grills in New Orleans

A city known equally for its beads and lively nightlife as it is for its satisfying and accomplished cuisine, New Orleans is definitely the talk of the town, offering both visitors and locals its world-famous character and multicultural heritage. A beacon along the longstanding banks of the Mississippi River, NOLA has welcomed tourism as one of the most vibrant sectors of the city’s growth. New retail shops, restaurants and cultural attractions draw thousands of visitors a year and new developments have been on the rise in the spirit of the city’s constant growth. On May 22, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, the nation’s first upscale downtown outlet center, will open its doors to the public at 10 a.m., and with it, New Orleans’ first MOOYAH restaurant. To meet the demand of growing burger enthusiasts, New Orleanians Kaleb and Khai Duong are spearheading the brand’s growth in their hometown. This is the first MOOYAH location of five to open up in the Big Easy. “The city of New Orleans, specifically the Riverwalk, provides a vibrant and lively backdrop for our first MOOYAH restaurant,” Kaleb Duong said. “My brother and I are extremely excited to finally open a ‘better burger’ concept in our hometown and provide families with outstanding, high-quality burgers, alongside striking views of the Mississippi River.” Through their opening, the Duongs aim to bring a made-to-order burger experience complete with fresh-baked buns or lettuce wraps, never-frozen 100 percent American beef, Jennie-O® turkey or the veggie patty, all alongside daily-cut French fries and handcrafted shakes. Prior to franchising, Kaleb and Khai’s careers lay in radiology and education, respectively. The brothers, both in their 30s, knew they wanted to pursue local business ownership together in their spirited city of New Orleans. Kaleb and Khai first got into franchising in 2010 when they opened a couple of frozen yogurt shops, which they still own and operate today. Wanting to diversify, and being familiar with MOOYAH after visiting Dallas, the brothers looked into the brand from a professional standpoint and signed a five-unit deal. “The New Orleans food scene is unmistakably popular and continues to thrive; opening a MOOYAH location in the heart of it all is an excellent opportunity for us as a brand, and we’re very thrilled to have Kaleb and Khai on board,” said Michael Mabry, Vice President of Operations and Franchise Development for MOOYAH. “MOOYAH has pledged to offer our Guests nothing short of fresh ingredients and outstanding service, which together, provide an experience unmatched by other burger brands.” The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, the site of the new restaurant, was built in 1984 for the World’s Fair, and after extensive renovation and temporary closure, will finally reopen to the public, showcasing national retailers, local shops, dining and entertainment to reflect the inimitable essence of New Orleans. To celebrate the Grand Opening of the waterfront destination, the first 500 entrants will receive a VIP swag bag and participating retailers are hosting a day of in-store activities. To learn more about the grand opening please visit: http://www.riverwalkneworleans.com/.