Engineer and Chemist Franchisees Bring Analytical Approach to Franchising with The Brass Tap

Coming from successful careers in engineering and chemistry, husband-and-wife franchisees Brijesh and Zarna Patel naturally brought an analytical approach to their search for a franchising opportunity. Their scientific backgrounds equipped them with a mindset focused on efficiency and systems, which made the franchise model particularly appealing.

“Our decision to enter franchising stemmed from a desire to leverage our skills and experience in a business model that offered growth potential,” said Zarna. “Franchising presented a compelling opportunity to build a business with a proven framework, allowing us to apply our technical expertise in an exciting way.”

The couple looked at a number of franchise opportunities, but found they kept coming back to The Brass Tap as their top choice. While they appreciated the concept’s combination of a sports bar atmosphere with a focus on craft beer, wine and spirits, it was ultimately The Brass Tap’s commitment to innovation that sealed the deal for the Patels.

“This franchise isn’t just about serving great craft beer,” Zarna said. “It’s about continually pushing the boundaries and introducing new ideas. Coming from backgrounds where we thrive on innovation, challenges and the dynamic nature of business, we see this franchise as the perfect opportunity to leverage our passion and expertise to drive growth and success.”

Once their first brewpub is opened, the Patels plan to open two additional locations within the next two years. This reflects their ambitious — yet structured — approach to growth and showcases their dedication to ensuring each opening meets their high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Patels about the benefits of the franchise system, their entrepreneurial journey with The Brass Tap and their plans for the future.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Zarna Patel: Before we ventured into franchising, we each pursued successful careers in our respective fields — Brijesh as a mechanical engineer and me as chemist specializing in quality. Our decision to enter franchising stemmed from a desire to leverage our skills and experience in a business model that offered growth potential and operational franchising presented a compelling opportunity to build a business with a proven framework allowing us to apply our technical expertise and in an exciting way.

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?

Brijesh Patel: We're both working professionals. We were considering launching a new venture prior to becoming franchisees, but it's a significant undertaking that requires considerable time and involves reinventing the wheel. Adopting a proven and successful concept could streamline the process. When we saw the franchise business model, it made sense to us because we would be leveraging the expertise and processes from the franchisor and adopting their system to run our business. Coming from an engineering and science background, this was the most efficient and effective approach, as it did not require reinventing the wheel.

We explored both options: starting a franchise and creating our own independent restaurant or sports bar. While building our own concept would allow for complete originality, it's a time-consuming process that requires establishing new expertise, which is a significant drawback for us given our corporate backgrounds and lack of experience in the restaurant industry. The franchise model, despite its royalty fees, offers a streamlined path by providing established expertise and support. This guidance offsets the costs and significantly reduces the risks involved. Therefore, franchising makes the most sense for us, enabling us to leverage proven systems and focus on running a successful business. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Zarna: We chose this brand because it offers a unique combination of a sports bar atmosphere with over 40 taps catering to a wide range of customers who appreciate neighborhood or craft beer tailored to local preferences. Additionally, the inclusion of wine and spirits ensures that there is something for everyone, even those who aren't beer enthusiasts.

What excites us most about this company is its commitment to innovation. This franchise isn't just about serving great craft beer; it's about continually pushing the boundaries and introducing new ideas. So, coming from backgrounds where we thrive on innovation challenges and the dynamic nature of business, we see this franchise as the perfect opportunity to leverage our passion and expertise to drive growth and success. Moreover, this franchise stands out as one of the fastest growing upscale bar franchisees in the country capitalizing on the booming craft beer market. We're thrilled to be part of the brand that is leading the industry with its fast, forward-thinking approach.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Zarna: Our growth plans are ambitious and structured. We’ve already signed agreements for two additional Brass Tap sports bar locations. Our timeline is to open these new locations within two years following the launch of our first establishment. This phased approach allows us to ensure each opening is successful and meets our high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Zarna: The one thing about our story that we want you to know is that we both come from ambitious hospitality business family backgrounds. We’ve always believed in the power of hard work and the importance of our satisfaction. For us, the customer is everything and our primary goal is to make them happy by serving our community with dedication and passion

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Zarna: Our advice for new franchise owners is to tap in on what The Brass Tap is currently doing. The Brass Tap is already an established franchise company, but what I said earlier is that the company is committed to innovation and continuously growing, as well as introducing new ideas on how to serve the community. I think that is what I would advise new franchise owners: to really understand that and think of this franchise.

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/.