From IT to In-N-Out Dreams: The Halal Burger Boss Taking Over the Northeast 🍔✨
Shahezad Contractor didn't set out to build a restaurant empire. He just wanted more halal options.
Now? He's got 8 locations, $4M+ in revenue, and one big goal: *"Be the next In-N-Out or Shake Shack."*
👇 Here's how he did it:
🔹 **The accidental entrepreneur**: After 24 years in IT, the contractor tried his hand at smashburgers at a 2023 halal food festival. He bought enough meat for 500 people… and sold out by 6 p.m. *"That's when I realized there was a ton of potential."*
🔹 **The leap of faith**: Worried AI might impact his tech career, Contractor left his "cushy" IT job to go all-in on food. As the sole breadwinner for his wife and two daughters, it was a huge risk — but one he believed in.
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🔹 The formula:
✅ USDA Prime Black Angus from a local halal butcher
✅ Simple, perfected recipes (the smashburger is #1 🏆)
✅ Buttered potato rolls + signature house sauce
✅ Great service, every time
🔹 **The product**: A halal smashburger for $7-8. *"I'd love to sell a $4 burger, but the economics don't make sense right now."*
🔹 **The vision**: Contractor sees "untapped potential" in halal food. *"You don't need to be Muslim to enjoy halal,"* he says — it's about quality, cleanliness, and humane sourcing.
🚀 What's next?
• 50 locations in the next few years
• Expansion into Canada
• Building a global halal brand
"We're going to keep going until somebody tells us to stop."
💬 **Question for you**: Have you tried halal burgers before? What's your go-to order? Drop a 🍔 if you'd try Cousin's Burger — or tag someone who needs to know about this spot!