MOOYAH Coming Back To Ohio, 1st Location In Middleburg Heights

MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH — MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes will open a new Ohio location this year. The Buckeye State location will be in Middleburg Heights, at the Shoppes at Bagley.

The restaurant is being opened by Emad Tawfik, a longtime Ohio resident and restaurant professional. "I’m really excited to bring this to the community and I can’t wait until people can come out and try the food. I’m sure everyone is going to love it," Tawfik told Patch.

MOOYAH, as a restaurant chain, is about a dozen years old. The fast-casual restaurant business started in Plano, Texas and has established a presence much of the U.S. However, the Great Lakes region has been largely untouched by the brand. That will change under Tawfik's leadership.

He said customers should expect one thing when they come to Mooyah: "the best burger they've ever eaten in their life."

Tawfik said MOOYAH bakes their burger buns fresh every morning, and customers will be able to choose from two different types of buns. There will be a wide variety of condiments, including lesser-seen options like avocado, fried onions and six varieties of cheese. The burgers will be made from black Angus Beef, a fact Tawfik was especially proud of in conversation.

"We’re not just using fresh meat, we’re using fresh Angus beef burgers," he said. He added that there will be more than just beef burgers on the menu.

"We are looking to meet everyone’s family needs. You will have vegetarian options, black bean burgers, turkey burgers, salads, and sweet potato fries. If you can’t make up your mind between regular fries and sweet potato fries, you can get half fries and half sweet potato fries," he said.

He also touted MOOYAH's shakes, which he called the "best you'll every try."

Tawfik is excited by the food he's going to offer and he has enough experience in fast-casual eateries to make his joy infectious. He's eager to open and eager for the people of Middleburg Heights and surrounding communities to try his food.

Arriving in Middleburg Heights

Tawfik spent five years trying to select a location for his own restaurant franchise. He knew that success in the restaurant business was about two things: great food and great location.

Middleburg Heights quickly announced itself as an ideal city for MOOYAH, but he couldn't decide where to launch his business in the city.

He landed at the Shoppes on Bagley because of its proximity to the highway, the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, the Cleveland Browns training camp, Baldwin Wallace University and Southwest General Hospital.

If everything goes well, Tawfik is hoping to have MOOYAH's first Ohio location open in September.

"I know quality is very important for people when they go to eat out," he said. "That's why I fell in love with MOOYAH."