The Halal Guys to more than double Midwest footprint with Ohio deal

The Halal Guys has signed a franchise deal to open seven locations in the greater Columbus area, marking the NYC brand’s first step into the Ohio market.

The deal, which has been signed with franchisee group Smart Choice Food LLC, will see The Halal Guys’ first Ohio site opening later this year.

“The economy in Columbus was on the upswing prior to COVID-19, but it was the people and sense of community that really got us interested in bringing The Halal Guys to the area,” said franchisees Mohamed Alwah, Yara Fardous, and Sam Saad. “This is a diverse city full of strong, resilient, and welcoming people, and we wanted to be a part of that.”

The Halal Guys currently operates 87 locations, with plans to expand to 400 within the next several years. Starting in the late 1990s and spreading through word-of-mouth from Muslim taxi drivers looking for well-priced Halal food, the brand has since partnered with development organization Fransmart – responsible for the growth of names like Five Guys Burgers & Fries and QDOBA Mexican Grill.

“We were passionate customers before we became franchise partners, and whenever we visited New York or Chicago, our first (of many) stops was always The Halal Guys,” added Smart Choice Food LLC. “We believe in this brand and are confident it will be successful in Columbus.”