When students scour West Campus for a late night snack, few places remain open. However, Mighty Mo’s, which opened on Guadalupe Street this semester, aims to become the next hotspot for students and their nocturnal cravings. 

“We’re going to be a late night spot for sure,” said Mohammed “Moe” Alfawagreh, the restaurant’s founder and owner. “That was my number one thing.” 

During last week’s winter storm, students without power or dining services lined up for Mighty Mo’s Philly cheesesteaks. After considering other cities for his restaurant, including Houston and Miami, Alfawagreh landed in Austin. Relieved after finding success in the Texas capital city, Alfawagreh, an Ontario, Canada native, said he feared failure when starting a franchise in the United States.

“It was one of the scariest things to be away from my family and away from friends, and I’m investing a whole chunk of money into something that might not even work,” Alfawagreh said. “If you (told) me six months or a year ago that I was going to be in Texas, I would have told you that you’re crazy … I’m definitely shocked at the success so far.” 

Throughout his life, Alfawagreh said he found ways to support his family, from selling his own toys at school to later managing gyms. Along with Mighty Mo’s, Alfawagreh runs seven restaurants in two countries after only three years in the industry.

Understanding students’ drive, Alfawagreh said he turned to his patrons when hiring. Raiyan Amin, a petroleum engineering freshman, said the restaurateur told him about a job when picking up food last week, especially as Amin hopes to to offset his tuition costs. 

“I was trying to find a job, and then I randomly walked in, and got the job,” Amin said. “I’ve met two other UT students (through the job), and I got one of my friends to join too. I really like (Mighty Mo’s) mission, and eventually, I want to climb the ladder.” 

Planning to stay open until 4 a.m. once fully staffed, Alfawagreh said he looks to bring Canadian dishes to Austin, including poutine, a dish made of french fries, cheese curds and gravy. 

Biomedical engineering sophomore Mitchell Litvinov said Mo’s offered him personal service and the chance to try something new. 

“I got some poutine, which was the first time I’ve ever had it. It was phenomenal,” Litvinov said. “We’re definitely going to go back. It’s really cool that he’s bringing over a different culture.” 

Youthful and energized, Alfawagreh said he understands the students he employs and serves, and with continued success, hopes to open more locations this year. Still, he has dreams beyond the daily kitchen grind. 

“I’m doing something I never thought I would do, and I’m able to say that I’ve created something out of nothing,” Alfawagreh said. “I’m in the restaurant business, but I want to do a lot of other opportunities. I’ve always been a fan of creating stuff for younger generations and I want to be able to build something where I can help people get to success.”