Moe’s — an established Mexican restaurant chain popular in the southern United States — opened its doors Thursday in the former location of OZ Gallery and Hand-Blown Glass, which moved its store to Lansing in November 2010. Currently there are about 25 employees working, and Austin said he plans to hire more when the students return.

Although the restaurant opened during the summer months, when most students are away, Austin said business has been good, and Moe’s has maintained a constant stream of customers.

“People were so wild about Moe’s coming,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s going to slow down, and once school comes back we’re going to be crazy busy.”

Although Moe’s is located right along Grand River Avenue, its place between a pair of restaurants with similar menus — Chipotle, 539 E. Grand River, and Taco Bell, 601 E. Grand River — might cause competition in the area.

“Personally I wouldn’t have opened one here,” food industry management sophomore Jessica Dobson said, adding she likes the opening of a new restaurant and hopes to visit soon, but there are several other Mexican brands nearby.

“There needs to be more places like StateSide (Deli) where I can just get a sandwich.”

However, Austin said there are a couple of things in addition to Moe’s’ trademark greeting that set it apart from its competition.

The restaurant’s Coca-Cola Freestyle machine offers more than 100 different drink choices for customers, and Austin said the menu varies as well.

“One thing about our food is you can mix this up, mix that up and it can be unhealthy or healthy if you want,” he said.

Scott Crabtree, general manager at Panchero’s, said he is not concerned with a new restaurant with similar cuisine opening up just down the street.

“I welcome it,” he said. “I think the more businesses we have over here, the more people in general it’s going to bring into East Lansing, which is going to be good for all businesses around.”

Austin said Moe’s eventually will set up an outside dining area in the alley next to the restaurant, an addition Community and Economic Development Administrator Lori Mullins said already was approved by the city.

Director of Planning and Community Development Tim Dempsey said although the building Moe’s is housed in has seen businesses come and go in the past, the restaurant appears to be more sustainable than its previous tenants.

“I think Moe’s appears to be a much more established operator, they have a track record and a well-defined business model,” he said.

“They have a leg up on some of the other businesses that have come through that space.”

Staff writer Darcie Moran contributed to this report.