Blue Moon Mexican Cafe begins franchise push in Northeast

While many restaurateurs work hard to establish their brands in Manhattan, Howard Felixbrod, founder and chief executive of Blue Moon Mexican Cafe, says he would prefer to stay out of the aggressive borough.

“There’s no point in spending four times the amount in rent,” Felixbrod said. “In Englewood, we’re spending about half that and doing 30 percent more business, and people are happy.”

Which is not to say that Felixbrod is a stranger to the island. The Blue Moon Mexican Cafe co