Mama’s BBQ Chicken: Cult Endeavour Hills chicken shop to open on Lygon St
He became a viral sensation for his instore dancing, and now this Endeavour Hills shop owner is bringing the ‘flavour flavour flavour’ to a new location.
South East
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A suburban chicken shop owner who became a viral dancing sensation is refusing to let Covid-19 kill his business, and is making the move to one of Melbourne’s most popular dining strips.
Waleed ‘Wally’ Khawali will open a second Mama’s BBQ Chicken and Salad Bar on Lygon St in Brunswick East next month, alongside his well-known Endeavour Hills shop.
His expansion, which he announced on Facebook on Tuesday, comes four years after he famously saved his ailing Heatherton Rd shop in 2017 with a series of dancing videos and his “flavour flavour flavour” catchphrase.
The videos made him a hit on social media, tripled sales and attracted visitors from throughout Victoria and interstate.
Following his online fame, he started organising car shows outside the Endeavour Hills store and tore up the dancefloor with appearances at South Yarra’s Chasers Nightclub.
Mr Khawali told Leader the impact of Covid-19 had hit his business hard and forced him to take the leap and look for another store.
He said he found the new site at 61 Lygon St following a lead from one of his suppliers.
“It’s not enough just one shop … so I said to the missus, ‘let’s start looking’,” Mr Khawali said.
“Next minute, I’m signing papers and going into Lygon St.
“I’m not letting Covid destroy our lives, we have to fight through it … we’ve been getting really nice support from our customers during this time, and that’s given me the push to go for it.”
Mr Khawali said he was starting to recruit staff for the new store with the hope of opening in the middle of September.
He said its menu would include a few new items, including “chicken wings with so many flavours”, along with favourites from the Endeavour Hills store.
“You can’t keep doing the same thing and I want to change it up” he said.
“Lygon St has died off a bit but I reckon with our following, everyone will get together, try the food and like it … and hopefully also bring business to the cafes and stores out there.
“That’s what we’re all there for, to help the people out and keep them happy with the flavour.”
Mr Khawali will be joined at the Brunswick East store by his fiance, Pamela, who he has been engaged to for two years.
He said the virus outbreak had forced them to reschedule their wedding three times, and opening the new store would help them prepare for the future.
Mr Khawali also said he would be ramping up his dancing videos and content with the new store opening.
“People said I’ve been a bit quiet lately, and it’s because I’ve been focused on what to do next,” he said.
“I’m not letting Covid-19 affect my business, I said ‘that’s it, I’m getting into this shop and I’m going to make it work’.
“It’s a big and different challenge, but I like a challenge, I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.”
