Moe's Southwest Grill expanding on LI

If you gotta go to Moe's, there will be plenty of Moe's to go to on Long Island.

No, not the sporting goods store with the catchy jingle, but Moe's Southwest Grill. The Atlanta-based company said it plans to have 18 to 20 of the "fast casual" restaurants on the Island in the next few years. There are already 5 of the franchised eateries here, operated by Mike Walsh, in Greenvale, East Meadow, Oceanside, Garden City and Woodbury.

Earlier this week, Paul Damico, the chain's president, said another 13 or 15 will open here.

On Long Island, Damico said "there are lots of hospitals, high schools, universities. Those are some of our draws." Damico said Moe's has "a cult following" of diners who love its tacos, burritos and nachos. There are 414 Moe's across the country, Damico said.

LI's new ones will be on both the North and South shores as well as the East End, Damico said. Walsh said he is not troubled by plans to open more on the Island. He wants to open another five on the Island. "The more the better," Walsh said.

Damico said the chain won't be done expanding on the Island even after the new ones are all open. "What we'll do once we fill out the 18 is that we'll do another real-estate study and find out how the Island develops," he said.