Popular Family Sports Pub Franchise Looks to Shake Up Fast Causal in its 30th Year
For the last 30 years, when people have thought of the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s brand, they have thought of great food and a fun, family atmosphere. Now, as the sports pub franchise looks to its future, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s fans can expect to see a new focus: speed. The Tampa, Florida based brand is in the process of launching its first Beef’s Express restaurant, a fast-casual take on the sit-down pub classic. The first Beef’s Express will be up and running at 1614 Towne Center Dr., Lakeland FL this August.
Beef’s Express will feature a slimmed-down menu, roughly half the size of the current Beef ‘O’ Brady’s menu. Guests will order at a register, get their own beverage, and their food will then be brought out to their table.
“The way people are using restaurants is changing,” said Chris Elliott, CEO of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, “We worked with our franchisees to create Beef’s Express in order to meet the changing needs of customers and provide a growth vehicle for our owners.”
Joe Bullara, a longtime Beef ‘O’ Brady’s franchisee, is working to develop the concept with his son, Ryan, and Don Bosko, the very first Beef ‘O’ Brady’s franchisee. Joe has already seen great success with the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s brand, having owned and operated his first location for over 10 years. These longtime franchisees now look forward to helping usher in the future with Beef’s Express. Joe and Ryan will launch and manage the restaurant together, and understand the challenges a new fast-casual concept presents.
“Collaboration with home office has been excellent. Together we developed the menu, the high tech kitchen, the operating procedures, and the look and feel of the concept,” Joe Bullara said. “We recognize that in a fast casual environment speed, quality and value are the keys to success. We threw in a little extra variety to distinguish ourselves from our competitors.”
To achieve this delicate balance of speed and quality, Beef’s Express locations will feature high tech kitchens and new digital menu boards. Guests will be able to stay connected through in-restaurant Wi-Fi and even enjoy over 130 beverage flavors with Coca Cola freestyle machines, all in the warm and inviting décor fans of the original Beef ‘O’ Brady’s have come to expect.
Beef’s Express will also offer something unique to the fast-casual industry: an 8 seat bar that will serve beer and wine, with the back of the bar doubling as a to-go window.
“Beef ‘O’ Brady’s has always been a family-first concept so we do not plan on serving hard liquor,” said Bullara. “But the 8 seat beer and wine bar will really help set us apart from other fast-casual restaurants in the industry.”
The new Beef’s Express concept will center on variety, innovation, and customization. Traditional favorites like wings, salads, and fresh Angus burgers will be joined by new additions such as a Creamy Tomato and Alfredo Pasta, a new summer salad, and the Turkey Bacon Deli Melt. A full list of soups, salads, pastas, and sandwiches can also be combined with a “pick 2” option to allow for a customizable fast-casual meal.
The new menu and layout will appeal directly to today’s busy Millennial lifestyle. Those dining at Beef’s Express will be able to grab a delicious but quick meal on the go.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s new foray into the “express” market is just the tip of the iceberg for the brand’s expansion plans entering its landmark 30th year. The flagship Beef ‘O’ Brady’s model is looking to continue developing into new markets including opportunities across the state of Texas, Atlanta, and throughout the southeastern United States.
CEO Chris Elliott is aggressive in his vision for the new Beef’s Express: “If the prototype works how we think it will, Beef’s Express should account for 60 percent of our new stores in the coming years.”
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is a franchise of family sports pubs that provides the perfect atmosphere for friends and families to watch the game and grab a bite. With a focus on providing value without sacrificing quality, the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s menu features delicious family favorites like hearty pizza and flatbreads, award-winning wings, fresh Angus burgers and crisp salads, along with a kids’ menu and a full bar for the adults. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is strongly dedicated to community involvement through ongoing partnerships with local schools, youth sports leagues and other community groups. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s currently operates 209 locations in 23 states. For more information about franchising opportunities visit http://www.beefobradysfranchise.com.
