By Kimberly Givant || Editor-in-Chief
The franchise Moe’s Southwest Grill will be opening a restaurant in Lancaster next Friday, June 24, at 530 Centerville Road. The official opening will be preceded by two days of pre-opening, community-outreach events. Following these events, Lancaster Moe’s will be open during their general hours: Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The 2,900 square foot location will seat 97 people and is only a ten minute drive from the Franklin & Marshall College campus.
Moe’s is considered a Mexican and Tex-Mex grill with many popular items on their menu, including “The Homewrecker” burrito. However, everything at Moe’s is made to order with fresh, seasonal ingredients and every meal comes with free chips and salsa. The restaurant also has low-calorie and vegetarian options and offers catering.
On Wednesday evening, June 22, from 5 to 8 p.m., Moe’s is having a fundraising event for Hempfield High School of Lancaster County at the restaurant’s Lancaster location. This pre-opening fundraiser is an “all you can eat” event. For just $10, guests are welcome to eat as much Moe’s food as they like. Lancaster Moe’s is hosting a similar “all you can eat” fundraising event at the same time the next night, Thursday, June 23, for Hempfield School District’s elementary and middle schools.
“100% of the money is going to the schools. It’s a really great way to raise funds for the schools and help much needed programs,” said Stephen Donnelly, Public Relations Director of Lancaster Moe’s.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, Moe’s is also hosting a “College and Community V.I.P. Party” for Lancaster residents and all members of the local colleges and universities. According to the Moe’s Lancaster press release: “The first 75 customers through the door will receive free Moe’s burritos for a year and all guests will receive a free Moe’s lunch, which includes one free entrée and drink per customer, while supplies last. The free burritos for a year prize entitles each winner to one burrito per week at the Lancaster Moe’s. In addition, free Moe’s spirit t-shirts will be given to the first 600 customers in line for the V.I.P. Party.”
These community-based events are part of the franchise’s greater effort to have their restaurants be both welcoming and genuinely a part of their local areas.
“We’re a very community-centric brand. So any time we open a new Moe’s location, we tend to do a lot of community events as it relates to whatever area we’re going in to,” Donnelly described.
John Johnston, the general manager of Lancaster Moe’s, as well as the restaurant’s 35 employees, are all local hires from the Lancaster area. The grill is also open to hiring students in the area and are accommodating to student schedules.
Moe’s is a growing brand that prizes itself on its fun, comfortable, and inviting atmosphere. According to the Lancaster Moe’s PR Director, their restaurants always have music playing and relaxing places to sit and eat.
“We’re excited to be in the Lancaster area. We’d love to have people come out for the community and college party that we’re putting on for people and come out to support the schools with the fundraisers,” said Donnelly, “We really want to make a fun, grand opening and make sure everybody comes and enjoys Moe’s on us.”
Senior Kimberly Givant is the Editor-in-Chief. Her email is kgivant@fandm.edu.
