The Brass Tap

Following the beer trail to its source has so far been a solid development model for <a href="https://thebrasstapfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-brass-taps-emphasis-on-multi-unit-franchise-development-yields-great-q3-results-2708742" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Brass Tap</a>, as the craft beer bar franchise recently closed two multi-unit deals in the craft beer havens of Dallas, Texas and Modesto, California. The Brass Tap&rsquo;s development team renewed its focus on pursuing multi-unit development over the last year and plans to continue its efforts into several other craft beer-focused markets in 2019.

&ldquo;Multi-unit development is important to us because of the level of sophistication multi-unit operators bring to the brand, both from an operations perspective and a real estate perspective,&rdquo; said The Brass Tap&rsquo;s VP of Franchise Development Jamie Cecil.

Established realtor and vendor relationships aren&rsquo;t the only reason multi-unit franchisees are becoming more prevalent across the franchise industry as a whole. Franchisors tend to prefer multi-unit operators to single-unit operators because of their financial flexibility and business development expertise. Multi-unit franchisees are often invested in more than one brand and franchisors across the board tend to prefer working with one experienced franchisee over multiple people of varying experience levels during the opening process.

For emerging brands like The Brass Tap that operate in a competitive, popular industry, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/how-the-brass-tap-s-unique-value-proposition-is-setting-multi-unit-owners-up-for-success--2704923" target="_blank">multi-unit owners are best equipped to bring </a><a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/how-the-brass-tap-s-unique-value-proposition-is-setting-multi-unit-owners-up-for-success--2704923" target="_blank">greater</a><a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/how-the-brass-tap-s-unique-value-proposition-is-setting-multi-unit-owners-up-for-success--2704923" target="_blank"> speed of expansion to the franchise,</a> which leads to better brand recognition on both a regional and national level and opens the door for further development.

&ldquo;The franchisees that are signing up for multi-units see the tremendous opportunity in the craft beer bar market and want to take full advantage,&rdquo; Cecil said. &ldquo;Instead of seeing someone else come into their area and reap the benefits of their hard work building brand recognition, they are increasingly looking to grow their footprint and command their region.&rdquo;

One of these franchisees is Sid Patel, the Brass Tap franchisee who just inked a five-unit development deal in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area. Patel currently owns and operates a Brass Tap location in Allen, Texas and is looking forward to expanding the brand&rsquo;s presence throughout the area because of the rate at which craft breweries are continuing to appear not only in the greater Dallas area, but in Texas overall.

Rick Sousa, who signed the Brass Tap&rsquo;s other Q3 multi-unit deal for Modesto, California, is new to the brand but not the industry. Souza has worked in the food service and manufacturing industry his entire career, most recently in business development for Dust Bowl Brewing Company, a local brewery in Modesto. His expertise in the field and area connections make him well-positioned to see to the success of his five upcoming Brass Tap locations, the first of which is set to open in late 2019.

The Brass Tap plans to ride the wave of momentum from the big Q3 development deals into 2019, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/advancing-nationwide-growth-targeting-multi-unit-operators-2703211" target="_blank">continuing the implementation of its aggressive development strategy</a>. Cecil said the brand&rsquo;s goal is to sign 25 new agreements and open 15-20 new locations over the next year, with a focus on Houston and Chicago and the state of California as a whole for development.

&ldquo;The craft beer craze in California continues to grow and outpace the rest of the country as the number of localized breweries keeps increasing,&rdquo; Cecil noted. &ldquo;Houston and Chicago in particular are growing as well, and we also have units in all of those areas that will help build brand awareness and credibility,&rdquo; he added.

Brass Tap franchise bar and restaurant interior

The Brass Tap's Emphasis on Multi-Unit Franchise Development Yields Great Q3 Results

1851 Franchise

On the heels of multi-unit deals in Texas and California, the upscale craft beer bar franchise has big plans for 2019.

This brand page has been paid for by THE BRASS TAP. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

the-brass-taps-emphasis-on-multi-unit-franchise-development-yields-great-q3-results

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Why Brass Tap

Our Growth

How Much Money Can I Make?

Franchisee Stories

Own a Brass Tap

Learn

Download Brochure

Visit Website

THE BRASS TAP

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Brass Tap and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Move Up in the Ranks on 2025 Franchise Times Top 400 List

The Neighborhood Bar Reimagined: Why The Brass Tap Is the Destination for Drinks, Sports, Food, and Community

Record-Breaking $2.3 Million AUV and a Refined Model Make Now the Most Profitable Moment to Join The Brass Tap

THE BRASS TAP MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT THE BRASS TAP

CONTACT THE BRASS TAP

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

City

State / Province

Liquidity

What interested you in The Brass Tap?

In a bar and sports pub segment packed with national chains and local independents, standing out has become harder than ever. Many concepts lean heavily on game-day traffic, oversized footprints or national marketing campaigns to drive volume.<a href="https://thebrasstapfranchise.com/">The Brass Tap</a> has taken a steadier approach. The brand has worked to define itself as an upscale community sports bar, supported by disciplined site selection and a more intentional operating model. That strategy is what drew&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-ridley-5b856b32/">Mark Ridley</a> to the brand after retiring from a 29-year career in government service.“As an NCIS agent, I moved 11 times to places all over, from California to North Carolina to Florida to Japan and Hawaii,” he said. “So one of the big things for me about getting into this business was that it was kind of cool to finally be a part of a community, because I hadn’t really been part of one my whole life.”Nearly nine years later at his National Harbor, Maryland, location, Ridley says the local ownership focus continues to set the concept apart.<h2>Defining an Upscale Community Sports Bar</h2><a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/info">The Brass Tap</a> did not set out to reinvent the sports bar. Instead, the concept evolved by paying attention to how people actually use the space. Guests come in for an extensive beer selection, creative cocktails, approachable but elevated food and an atmosphere that feels social without being overwhelming.Rather than competing purely on volume or game-day spikes, the brand aims to be a place people return to regularly. That mindset puts it in the same general category as concepts like Duffy's Sports Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, World of Beer and Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux, while leaning more heavily into a local, premium feel.The Brass Tap has also adjusted how it thinks about growth. Leadership watched other bar brands struggle under the weight of oversized footprints, including Bar Louie. The lesson was clear. Large spaces are expensive to build and harder to operate consistently.Today, the brand prioritizes right-sized locations with efficient layouts and buildouts that make sense for daily operations. That discipline reduces risk and supports more stable, long-term performance.<h2>Local Ownership That Feels Personal</h2>Ridley spent nearly three decades working in government and serving as an NCIS agent. After retiring, he began exploring franchise opportunities and looked closely at several concepts before landing on The Brass Tap. “The thing that attracted us to The Brass Tap was the fact that their royalties were a lot lower,” Ridley said. “And they seemed to be really engaged.”Now approaching nine years in business at National Harbor, Ridley says the brand’s emphasis on owner involvement has been central to its success. The Brass Tap encourages franchisees to become what it calls the “mayor of the market.”Located at National Harbor, a destination that sits at the intersection of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, Ridley’s location serves a mix of locals, convention traffic and military and government organizations. While the area brings built-in visibility, Ridley says repeat business comes from connection, not convenience.“We're kind of like the ‘Cheers’ of the National Harbor,” he said. “We're that local bar.”That approach shows up in the numbers. The brand reports an average guest frequency of 2.4 visits per month and the highest average ticket in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fscfranchiseco.com/">FSC Franchise Co.</a> portfolio at $39.72. Guests are not just stopping in. They are coming back.The Brass Tap is also leaning into that loyalty by using its storefronts as recruitment tools. Plans include highlighting owner stories, reinforcing the locally owned message and directing interested guests to franchise information. It is a strategy designed to turn regulars into potential owners.<h2>A Franchise Model Built to Scale</h2>The Brass Tap is currently the fastest-growing brand within the FSC portfolio. The company has 56 stores in development, the largest pipeline across the platform, with 12 more planned this year.For franchisees, growth does not have to stop at a single unit. Operators have access to centralized support and the option to expand into additional units or even other concepts within the portfolio.“They told us they would help us get started. They told us they'd help us get our staff trained. They said they'd stay with us along the way, and they've done all of those things,” Ridley said. “If something breaks or something goes wrong or I experience something that I haven't experienced before, I can call my franchise consultant and within minutes I'm getting closer to a solution."Operationally, the model is designed to be manageable. Locations are intentionally right-sized. Systems are established. Additional revenue streams like online ordering, delivery and catering provide room to grow without adding unnecessary complexity.At National Harbor, Ridley continues to expand private events and catering while benefiting from a steady flow of convention traffic. Growth, he said, feels natural rather than forced.In a segment often defined by sameness, The Brass Tap has found traction by staying focused on community, discipline and local ownership. For operators looking for a bar concept that values consistency over flash, that difference matters.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/info">https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/info</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

image of the brass tap franchise bartender serving drinks

By pairing an elevated sports bar experience with smarter real estate decisions and hands-on local ownership, The Brass Tap is carving out a sustainable path in a crowded category.

A Better Way to Build a Bar: Why The Brass Tap Is Gaining Ground

why-the-brass-tap-is-gaining-ground-in-the-sports-bar-segment

image of the brass tap interior, resturaunt franchise

The Brass Tap: A Local Neighborhood Bar Franchise Designed for Engaged Entrepreneurs

brass-tap-franchise-opportunity

Inside The Brass Tap's Recipe for Record-Breaking New Store Performance

inside-the-brass-taps-recipe-for-record-breaking-new-store-performance

image of the brass tap franchise deep dive on costs, fees, investment range, and fdd

The Brass Tap Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026

the-brass-tap-franchise-costs-fees-profit

The Brass Tap's Emphasis on Multi-Unit Franchise Development Yields Great Q3 Results

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS