Beef O'Brady's and Brass Tap looking for opportunities in Jacksonville, St. Augustine

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As Northeast Florida grows, Beef O’Brady’s would like to see the expansion of its two brands into the Jacksonville and St. Augustine markets.

The Tampa-based eatery opened its first Beef O’Brady’s family sports pub concept in 1985 in Brandon, followed by the October 2008 debut of Brass Taps in Wesley Chapel.

Currently, the company operates 140 restaurants in 21 states across the country with 61% in Florida. Although there are Beef O’Brady’s stores in Starke and Palatka, Jacksonville locations on Beach Boulevard and Argyle Forest Boulevard closed years ago.

“We do well in small towns or suburban areas of larger cities like Starke,” CEO Chris Elliot told the Business Journal. “When we determine a location, we connect with community schools, churches, and community organizations. We nestle into the community and get really connected.”

Elliot said the brand has very little penetration in Jacksonville or St. Augustine, but both brands will do well there based on Beef O’Brady's niche as a family sports pub.

Brass Tap attracts an adult demographic looking to meet with friends and socialize. The company is accelerating its search for the right partners for Northeast Florida locations and said Palm Coast has a successful Brass Tap and would like see that franchisee expand to Jacksonville — although there's nothing in the pipeline at this time.

Elliot said the brand is a good fit for the savvy entrepreneur.

“It is more profitable to franchise with a Beef O’Brady's or Brass Tap versus some of the larger big box restaurants because our franchises are less expensive,” Elliot said. “Our brands have a smaller footprint, and we are usually located at inline spaces, a second-generation site or a place where infrastructure already exists.”

In Florida, the company’s brand is already well known. Elliot said the market is very competitive in small places, and other big boxes can’t go into small towns the way their brand can where there is less competition.

Jacksonville neighborhoods Elliot cited as prime locations are Brooklyn, downtown and River City Marketplace. His best estimation for the brand’s local presence is 2025.

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