Business & Tech

Desert Moon Restaurant Closes Down

Mexican franchise in Essex Green Shopping Plaza shut its doors in mid April

Essex Green’s Desert Moon restaurant in West Orange has officially been deserted.

The Mexican eatery on Prospect Avenue shut down two months ago, according to neighbors, who said the restaurant did not attract much business.

Darren Yelin, director of franchise sales at Desert Moon, said the lease on the property expired and the owners decided not to renew. According to Yelin, there are a total of 14 Desert Moon franchises, with two in New Jersey. He did not release the names of the West Orange franchise owners. 

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Marshall Okin, operations managers at Jerry's Artist Outlet next door was not surprised by the closing and said the restaurant "was not very popular." 

He said the local franchise was owned by a West Orange husband and wife duo.

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"One day before (the closing), a guy came here with his truck and took everything," said a worker at Cold Stone Creamery adjacent to Desert Moon. The woman did not give her name, but said the restaurant's shutdown was "overnight."

"They didn't even tell us,” she said.

The restaurant was locked and dark last week, with no store closing or health inspection signs on the front door or windows.

Desert Moon opened July 2006 in West Orange and closed down in the middle of April, according to officials from the Essex Green Shopping Plaza. They said a new lease for the space has not yet been finalized.

According to its company website, Desert Moon is described as a "fresh, healthful alternative to fast food."

Desert Moon has been opening up franchises across the East coast since 1992.


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