For Hely and Hiral Patel, opening a Brass Tap franchise isn’t just a business move — it’s the realization of a long-held dream. The husband-and-wife team has spent the past 20 years working side by side in the restaurant industry, building their portfolio with Subway locations, the first Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise in Maryland, and a handful of rental properties. But a sports bar was always the goal, and when they discovered The Brass Tap while visiting family in Florida, the concept instantly clicked.
“We liked the concept — all the taps were very overwhelming in a good way,” Hely said. “It was entertaining, and my husband and I love watching sports. We thought it would be a great, family-friendly place where people could come watch games, grab a drink and enjoy themselves.”
Now, the couple is bringing that vision to life in Pasadena, Maryland, with plans for additional locations already in motion. Their first Brass Tap is currently in development, and they’ve signed a multi-unit agreement to expand the brand across the state. For the Patels, this next chapter is all about combining experience with passion — and giving their community a place to relax, connect and enjoy the game.
1851 Franchise sat down with Hely to discuss her franchising journey with her husband, what drew them to The Brass Tap, and what they hope to build with the brand. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Hely Patel: I started working with my husband Hiral in business 20 years ago. We've both been in the restaurant business ever since. We were always passionate about opening a sports bar, so when we got the opportunity with The Brass Tap, we decided to move forward.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Hely: My husband’s background is engineering. I did my engineering, and after we got married, he was already in the business. I started working with him so we could grow together. He opened a Subway restaurant in 2002 — that was our first franchise — and then we took over a few locations after that.
We’ve been in the franchise business for a long time. I opened the first Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise in Maryland back in 2011. We also manage rental properties here in Maryland.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Hely: My family back home in India has a business background — my father, my brother — everyone is involved in the food industry. I grew up with that mindset. When I came to this country, I thought franchising was a great opportunity to do something for yourself.
Now that I’m in it, I still believe that. If you're passionate and willing to work hard, it pays off. Every day isn't going to be the same — weather changes, traffic patterns change — but if you're ready for that and you keep trying, you’ll succeed.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Hely: We visited The Brass Tap years ago in Florida while visiting family. We liked the concept — all the taps were very overwhelming in a good way. It was entertaining, and my husband and I love watching sports. We thought it would be a great, family-friendly place where people could come watch games, grab a drink and enjoy themselves.
It was kind of our dream. We visited the corporate office about two years ago, started inquiring about the brand, and then began looking for the right location.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Hely: We’re planning to open more, but our main focus right now is making this first location successful. It's a neighborhood spot — somewhere people can come after work, grab a beer, relax, and have a good time. Once that’s in place, we’ll move on to the next one.
We’ve signed a multi-unit agreement, so we do plan to open more locations in Maryland — possibly in Gaithersburg, Germantown, White Marsh and Columbia.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Hely: I think that’s pretty much it. I was always very passionate about this industry. We came across this franchise, and now we’re looking forward to making it successful.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Hely: You can definitely grow. It’s hard work in the beginning, but it pays off if you're passionate. I always tell people to go ahead and find what they love. If you do that and work hard, you’ll get there.
ABOUT THE BRASS TAP
The Brass Tap is a Tampa-based craft beer bar and entertainment venue known for its extensive localized brewery offerings, specialty cocktails and premium wines paired perfectly with a select menu of upscale shareables. Every location provides a unique space for social gatherings and entertainment, with an unparalleled atmosphere created through live music, trivia, sports, exclusive beer tastings and tap takeovers. For more than 10 years, The Brass Tap has offered franchise opportunities to qualified operators, continuing to grow its family of 50+ bars in 16 states. For more information, visit http://thebrasstapfranchise.com/.
The Brass Tap
SPONSORED
After two decades in the restaurant industry, the husband-and-wife team is opening their first sports bar franchise in Pasadena, Maryland, with more locations to come.
For Hely and Hiral Patel, opening a Brass Tap franchise isn’t just a business move — it’s the realization of a long-held dream. The husband-and-wife team has spent the past 20 years working side by side in the restaurant industry, building their portfolio with Subway locations, the first Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise in Maryland, and a handful of rental properties. But a sports bar was always the goal, and when they discovered The Brass Tap while visiting family in Florida, the concept instantly clicked.
“We liked the concept — all the taps were very overwhelming in a good way,” Hely said. “It was entertaining, and my husband and I love watching sports. We thought it would be a great, family-friendly place where people could come watch games, grab a drink and enjoy themselves.”
Now, the couple is bringing that vision to life in Pasadena, Maryland, with plans for additional locations already in motion. Their first Brass Tap is currently in development, and they’ve signed a multi-unit agreement to expand the brand across the state. For the Patels, this next chapter is all about combining experience with passion — and giving their community a place to relax, connect and enjoy the game.
1851 Franchise sat down with Hely to discuss her franchising journey with her husband, what drew them to The Brass Tap, and what they hope to build with the brand. Here’s what she had to say:
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Hely Patel: I started working with my husband Hiral in business 20 years ago. We've both been in the restaurant business ever since. We were always passionate about opening a sports bar, so when we got the opportunity with The Brass Tap, we decided to move forward.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Hely: My husband’s background is engineering. I did my engineering, and after we got married, he was already in the business. I started working with him so we could grow together. He opened a Subway restaurant in 2002 — that was our first franchise — and then we took over a few locations after that.
We’ve been in the franchise business for a long time. I opened the first Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise in Maryland back in 2011. We also manage rental properties here in Maryland.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Hely: My family back home in India has a business background — my father, my brother — everyone is involved in the food industry. I grew up with that mindset. When I came to this country, I thought franchising was a great opportunity to do something for yourself.
Now that I’m in it, I still believe that. If you're passionate and willing to work hard, it pays off. Every day isn't going to be the same — weather changes, traffic patterns change — but if you're ready for that and you keep trying, you’ll succeed.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Hely: We visited The Brass Tap years ago in Florida while visiting family. We liked the concept — all the taps were very overwhelming in a good way. It was entertaining, and my husband and I love watching sports. We thought it would be a great, family-friendly place where people could come watch games, grab a drink and enjoy themselves.
It was kind of our dream. We visited the corporate office about two years ago, started inquiring about the brand, and then began looking for the right location.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Hely: We’re planning to open more, but our main focus right now is making this first location successful. It's a neighborhood spot — somewhere people can come after work, grab a beer, relax, and have a good time. Once that’s in place, we’ll move on to the next one.
We’ve signed a multi-unit agreement, so we do plan to open more locations in Maryland — possibly in Gaithersburg, Germantown, White Marsh and Columbia.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Hely: I think that’s pretty much it. I was always very passionate about this industry. We came across this franchise, and now we’re looking forward to making it successful.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Hely: You can definitely grow. It’s hard work in the beginning, but it pays off if you're passionate. I always tell people to go ahead and find what they love. If you do that and work hard, you’ll get there.
ABOUT THE BRASS TAP
The Brass Tap is a Tampa-based craft beer bar and entertainment venue known for its extensive localized brewery offerings, specialty cocktails and premium wines paired perfectly with a select menu of upscale shareables. Every location provides a unique space for social gatherings and entertainment, with an unparalleled atmosphere created through live music, trivia, sports, exclusive beer tastings and tap takeovers. For more than 10 years, The Brass Tap has offered franchise opportunities to qualified operators, continuing to grow its family of 50+ bars in 16 states. For more information, visit http://thebrasstapfranchise.com/.
Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else
By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.
No related articles found
