“When it comes to a place like Hickory, a place that is a large pocket for travelers and (commuters), many of them have never been to a Moe’s,” Brooks said. “It’s always exciting for me to see a community experience something that is brand new to them.”

Steiner’s husband and the other co-franchisee Jeff Steiner said he was excited about opening a Moe’s in Hickory after seeing how the community supported the couple’s other franchise, Five Guy’s Burgers and Fries, over in 1520 U.S. Highway 70 SE.

“We just really like the market of Hickory overall,” Jeff Steiner said.

Jeff Steiner, who moved his family to Mooresville from Michigan where he originally worked in the automotive industry, said his love of franchising and business came from people development and leadership.

“We like to put a big focus on promoting from within,” Jeff Steiner said. “One of the reasons I got into franchising is that they’ll give you the recipe on how to make the food and then rest of our people practices and running the businesses begin to take over, which I enjoy a lot.”

The Hickory location will be the couple’s second Moe’s location they own, in addition to the seven Five Guys Burgers and Fries locations they own in North Carolina.