The Great Franchisees: Chris and Kurlay Christensen, The Brass Tap, Texas

Chris and Kuralay Christensen, new franchisees of The Brass Tap*, a 50-plus-unit craft beer bar and grill franchise, had been exploring the idea of franchising since 2014. The couple had always dreamed of starting their own business, but according to Chris, they never really had the push to do it.

The pandemic provided that push.

Chris, who had been in the oil and gas industry in Texas since 1991, was laid off in the summer of 2020 amid COVID cutdowns, and he took that as an opportunity to dive into franchising. After identifying The Brass Tap as the right opportunity for the craft beer-loving couple, they signed on to open the brand's second location in the Greater Houston metropolitan area, which will open this summer.

Chris spoke to 1851 Franchise about his and his wife's journey, and how they knew The Brass Tap was the opportunity they'd been waiting for.

1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising?

Chris Christensen: I spent my entire career in the oil and gas industry. I started straight after graduate school back in 1991. I was put on furlough when COVID restrictions started in March 2020 and then was laid off three months later.  My wife, Kuralay, was director of nursing at a home healthcare provider, but she recently quit her job to attend The Brass Tap franchise training with me in March and April.  We will be co-managers of our new location when it opens this summer. 

1851: How long from the first time you learned about franchising until you inquired on the franchisor’s website?

Christensen: Six years.

I had been looking into franchising since 2014, when the most recent down cycle in the oil and gas industry started. I survived multiple layoffs during the down-cycle, until the pandemic hit. My wife and I always dreamed of starting our own business but never really had the push to do it. I found The Brass Tap. and it just seemed like a good fit for us. We wanted to do something interesting for us that also made people happy.  We love the craft beer scene, and beer makes everyone happy.  The Brass Tap was a good fit, we made initial contact with the franchisor in 2020, and we signed a franchise agreement with them in February 2021.

1851: How did you perform your research/due diligence?

Christensen: I bought a book called “The Franchise MBA,” and it gave me a good overview of the whole franchising process. I also used Entrepreneur to research brands, and that’s where The Brass Tap first caught my attention. 

We scheduled visits with multiple franchises in the Dallas area and interviewed them as part of due diligence. We also used an attorney and accountant that specialize in franchises as part of our due diligence.

1851: What made you say yes to The Brass Tap? 

Christensen:  We selected The Brass Tap for the following reasons:

• We love the craft beer scene, so The Brass Tap was aligned with guidance to “pick something you are interested in” when shopping for a franchise.
• Positive experiences during our visits to existing franchises, prior to contacting the franchisor.
• Capital requirements were within the limits we had available to invest.
• The franchisor was willing to accept first-time franchisees (not the case with many franchises).
• Positive feedback from existing franchisees during due diligence.
• Positive feedback from an attorney on franchise agreement terms and an accountant on project economics.

1851: What do the next steps look like before your big opening?

Christensen: We just returned from four weeks of franchisee training in Florida, which covered every aspect of running the business from top to bottom. We are currently focused on managing construction and pre-opening marketing activities. After we pass post-construction inspections and hire staff, the franchisor will bring in a whole team of trainers the week before we open, to train our staff.  This training team will stay during our first week open to make sure things are running smoothly before they leave.

1851: What could have scared you away? 

Christensen: While The Brass Tap is a relatively new franchise concept, we didn’t let that scare us. I am confident we have a good location, and we’ve been able to stick to our budget so far without significant cost overruns — something I consider to be the main fear for any first-time business owner. Franchises, in general, have a much lower rate of failure than opening a business on your own. With franchising, you’re buying a business model that has proven successful, and the company has already learned what works and what doesn’t work. 

What makes you stand out as a unique business owner in the local community?

Christensen: I think what makes us stand out is that we just want to create a little more happiness in our community. To open our first business at this point in our lives, when we could have chosen to continue our previous careers or pursued early retirement, shows that we’re really in this for the right reasons. Having an opportunity to do things differently, bring joy to the community and live out our dreams is such an exciting feeling. 

What do you hope to achieve with your business? Plans for growth? 

Christensen: We signed an area development agreement, so if we’re successful with the first store, we have the option to open four more. In 10 years, we want to have five locations open. After we open our first store, we’ll be developing future managers that can help us in our goals to expand. We want to hire a group of employees that we trust and that want to succeed in the business. Right now, the Houston area is growing rapidly, and it would be great to expand our business with it. We’re trying to create a fun environment that will become a go-to local hangout place.

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

Christensen: Don’t underestimate yourself and don’t be afraid to stretch yourself and learn. Especially with age, people tend to get comfortable, and I would just say don’t be afraid to grow and learn. We are excited to learn all the new skills required to run our first business. Just being brave enough to chase your dream is something I’m proud of us for doing. We thought about it for such a long time, and I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long. Find a way to come up with the courage to do it now instead of waiting.

To learn more about The Brass Tap, visit 1851 Franchise.

ABOUT FSC:

FSC Franchise Co. is the industry-leading franchisor behind Beef ‘O’ Brady’s and The Brass Tap, with over 180 locations across the United States. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, with 143 locations in 21 states, is a family sports pub concept that provides the perfect atmosphere for friends and families to watch the game and grab a bite. The Brass Tap, a craft beer bar and entertainment venue with 40 current locations in 16 states, is known for extensive localized brewery offerings, specialty cocktails and premium wines paired perfectly with a select menu of upscale shareables. 

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 nearly 50 bars in 16 states. For more information, visit http://thebrasstapfranchise.com/.