Mooyah Burger Franchise to Open in Garwood

Mooyah, a Texas-based burger franchise, will open in Garwood in the fall.

Co-owner Anthony D'Amore, a Scotch Plains resident who owns 18 Dunkin' Donuts franchises in Union County, says he and his business partner Thomas Mascia decided to open Mooyah after sampling their food after a franchising convention. 

"It was just the best burger I had ever had," D'Amore told Patch.

The restaurant will be located in the former Quizno's space at the Garwood Plaza on North Avenue.

Being a franchisee is in D'Amore's blood: His parents opened a Dunkin' Donuts on the Boulevard in Kenilworth in 1968 and it's still there today. D'Amore also owns the Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins just a few steps down from the proposed Mooyah space in the same shopping complex.

Mooyah offers burgers, shakes and fries in a fun, relaxed setting, says D'Amore. And if you'd rather something healthy, they cater to that, too. 

"Mooyah has a great concept," he says. "It's all fresh products. All the burgers are fresh, the French fries are hand-cut. But then Mooyah also offers a veggie burger, lettuce wraps, wheat buns. And even the buns are proofed and baked on site."

Mooyah also offers sweet potato fries and all the standard burger condiments, plus avocado, onion strings and bacon. And shakes are a favorite of D'Amore's, made with real Hershey's ice cream in several flavors. 

Besides the food, the atmosphere at Mooyah was another reason D'Amore and Mascia were hooked on the concept. 

"I’m tired of McDonald's and Burger King and even Wendy's is not fresh," says D'Amore. "But more than that, most people don't want to stay and eat in those restaurants. At Mooyah, it's designed to be family friendly and to make you want to stay." 

Fun colors, sayings and logos will line the walls inside Mooyah, along with things for kids, like a wall-size chalkboard for drawing.

D'Amore will submit plans to the borough planning board shortly and hopes to be open in November. He will also open Mooyahs throughout New Jersey (including several in Union County) and New York, but Garwood will be the first location. The Mooyah chain currently has 52 locations across the country.

D'Amore will have franchise opportunities for new locations in the future and encourages interested franchisees to contact him at anthonydamore@me.com.