Case
Teaching Notes
Abstract
Moby Dick House of Kabob is a restaurant chain based in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. Mike Daryoush founded “Moby’s Luncheonette” in 1989 with a focus on serving traditional American breakfast and lunch. At first the restaurant did not enjoy financial success so Mike, an immigrant from Iran, decided to take a new route, installing a traditional clay oven that baked fresh pita bread. This was an instant hit and inspired him to adopt a Persian-inspired menu and rename the restaurant “Moby Dick House of Kabob.” There are now 24 locations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area and Baltimore. This case examines what has enabled the success of Moby Dick and what challenges it faces. The overall goal is to introduce students to the concept of using food to promote cultural understanding, and to make students aware of the power of innovation, relationship building, and adaptability in operating a successful business.
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