Success does not happen overnight; it takes countless hours of hard work, dedication and conquering numerous failures and challenges, especially in business and entrepreneurship. It’s an even tougher task when you start at ground zero. One individual who’s had quite a remarkable journey, coming from a third-world country to find success in the United States’ competitive restaurant industry, is Moe El-Hamawi, aka Big Moe.
Big Moe was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon in a family of eight, consisting of his parents, three brothers and two sisters. Growing up, he watched his father and uncle run their own glass shop in South Beirut, and the family’s entrepreneurial influence would play a significant role in his future. When Big Moe was 17 years old, he and his family left their native home and moved to Michigan to begin a new journey. It took the young adult quite some time to adjust to his new life, and it was a struggle, to say the least. But Big Moe made ends meet working multiple jobs and eventually found his calling by working at a restaurant in a nearby airport. Within three months of working there, he was promoted to lead cook, sparking his interest in beginning culinary school and advancing his career as a chef.
After graduating from Schoolcraft College with a degree in culinary arts, Big Moe decided to become his own boss and used his years of culinary experience and education to open his own restaurant, Big Moe’s Kitchen. Opening in 2016 as a 600-square-foot carryout spot inside a gas station in Wayne, Michigan, the restaurant eventually moved in 2017 to a larger location in Garden City, where it still operates today.
Big Moe’s Kitchen has become a local favorite, offering a vast selection of items on their menu such as wings, wraps, subs, rice bowls, salads and smoothies, as well as signature dishes like bam bam shrimp, barbecue chicken egg rolls, loaded smoked brisket fries, smoked brisket sandwich and almond chicken. Whatever your taste buds may desire, you’ll likely find something to enjoy there.
Big Moe has only expanded his business since opening his first store, bringing its top cuisines to more communities. The restaurant has five (soon to be six) storefronts located across Michigan in Garden City, Dearborn, Grand Blanc, Oxford, Canton and soon, Detroit. It also operates food trucks in Michigan and Georgia. Big Moe’s Kitchen is currently working to expand nationwide to cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
The news and editorial staffs of the Chicago Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.