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.
The Brass Tap 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 Mark Ridley 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.
The Brass Tap 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.
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 FSC Franchise Co. 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.
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 https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/info.
The Brass Tap
SPONSORED
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.
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.
The Brass Tap 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 Mark Ridley 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.
The Brass Tap 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.
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 FSC Franchise Co. 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.
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 https://1851franchise.com/brasstap/info.
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