Moe’s Southwest Grill, a fast-casual restaurant chain known for its vibrant atmosphere, bold flavors, and customizable Tex-Mex offerings, is getting ready to expand throughout Arizona with even more locations.
Previously, What Now Phoenix reported on franchisees Tony and Namit Mangat, a dynamic father-son team, partnered with GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky’s, to bring the iconic Southwest restaurant to the desert.
Their first Moe’s location opened in Goodyear in December 2024 and has already garnered a loyal customer base. The company is preparing to open its newest location at Lake Pleasant Crossing Shopping Center at 24737 North Lake Pleasant Parkway. Moe’s Southwest Grill is set to open on Friday, May 16, making it the second of ten Moe’s locations planned by Arizona-based franchisees.
“Opening Moe’s Southwest Grill in Peoria is an exciting step in this journey,” Namit Mangat said in a news release. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow Moe’s in a community like this. My goal is to build something meaningful—one restaurant at a time—by focusing on good food, great service, and treating every guest like family.”
To celebrate the grand opening, the Peoria Moe’s will kick off festivities at 11 a.m. with exciting giveaways, including free burritos for a year for the first 50 people in line. Guests can also enjoy samples of fan-favorite menu items, family-friendly activities, and swag giveaways throughout the day.
Moe’s Southwest Grill is known for its customizable menu featuring made-to-order burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and more, all made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. With its commitment to flavor, flexibility, and fun, Moe’s offers a fast-casual dining experience that caters to various tastes and lifestyles, including vegetarian and gluten-friendly options.
After this location, it was believed the Mangats would open another Moe’s in Tempe. It appears the franchise owners have other plans before entering that neighborhood. According to In Business Phoenix, a third Moe’s location is also planned for Gilbert later this year. Before the franchise owners open another Moe’s, Tony and Namit are expanding their footprint at Lake Pleasant Crossing with the upcoming opening of Cinnabon Swirl next door, which is expected to open sometime this year.
GoTo Foods recently announced the launch of Cinnabon Swirl, the company’s first original concept. This innovative new brand combines Cinnabon’s signature ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls with Carvel’s creamy indulgence of The Original Soft Serve to create a unique dessert experience.
The first Cinnabon Swirl location will open in May 2025 in Hillsboro, Oregon. With more than 30 locations already in development, GoTo Foods plans to open three additional Cinnabon Swirl stores later this year in Peoria, Arizona, Kennesaw, Georgia, and Pasadena, California, marking a significant expansion of its dessert portfolio.
“GoTo Foods has a unique competitive advantage by operating as a dynamic platform company with powerful enterprise engines, including supply chain, technology, and revenue management. This company is able to propel the success of our current portfolio of brands while also being able to instantly provide new concepts like Cinnabon Swirl with elevated resources to help drive the business,” Jim Holthouser, Chief Executive Officer at GoTo Foods, said in a news release. “By combining the global recognition of Cinnabon with the passionate fanbase of Carvel, Cinnabon Swirl is well-positioned to become the most irresistible dessert destination in the industry.”
