After a successful debut in Goodyear in December, father-son franchisee duo Tony and Namit Mangat are opening a Moe’s Southwest Grill in Peoria on Friday, May 16.
The location, opening at the Lake Pleasant Crossing Shopping Center, is the second of 10 Moe’s locations in Arizona planned by the Mangat family across the following year.
“It’s a really growing area. It’s a lot of schools around there, which I think it’s perfect for catering to families,” Namit said.
The celebratory opening starts at 11 a.m. May 16. The restaurant will host giveaways on the day, including free burritos for a year for the first 50 people in line. The Atlanta-based chain will also offer food samples and family-friendly activities.
The Mangat family opened the first Moe’s Southwest Grill in Arizona at the end of last year in Goodyear. The business found a loyal customer base, Namit said. He grew up in Peoria and is ready to open a business in his backyard.
“It’s crazy to think about that, how when I was driving around there with my parents when I was younger, it was just dirt. Now to see all these buildings, and then one of those buildings is my concept the most, it’s pretty crazy to think about,” Namit said.
Moe’s Southwest Grill is a Tex-Mex casual restaurant with approximately 600 locations in the country. It serves Southwest bowls and burritos, quesadillas, nachos, and stacks. Moe’s is part of GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky’s. The Mangat family partnered with GoTo Foods and will open a Cinnabon Swirl at Lake Pleasant Crossing Shopping Center.
Namit said Future Moe’s Southwest Grill locations are planned across the state, including Gilbert, later this year.
“Moe’s is pretty well known, especially on the East Coast. We have a lot of people that have made the drive from the east side of the Valley, and expressed multiple times that they’re waiting for more to open on their side of town,” he said.
“We’re just trying to get as many Moe’s as possible into the Phoenix area, as long as they’re not competing with each other. Hopefully one in each city.”
Tony and Namit are co-franchise owners, and their work together with GoTo Foods is their first jump into the franchise business.
Tony arrived in Arizona at the age of 22, immigrating from India, and is the founder and CEO of Mangat Group, based in Glendale.
The Moe’s Southwest Grill will be open daily for lunch and dinner.
