Beef ‘O’ Brady’s owner Jay Boyd poses with proprietor Joe Fintak and bartender Jen Beckman outside his establishment.
By Adam Musgrave
When Jay Boyd and Jay Demo both lost their jobs during the recession in 2010, neither could have imagined becoming the owners of a restaurant. Though Boyd had grown up in restaurants, Demo worked in the banking industry and had no experience with the foodservice industry. Now, less than two years later, the pair has turned Apollo Beach’s Beef ‘O’ Brady’s into a go to destination for families seeking great food and a friendly atmosphere.
“The stars just aligned and everything just fell into place,” recalled Boyd.
Working with longtime proprietor Joe Fintak the pair has almost doubled the size of the establishment, only the second Beef ‘O’ Brady’s created by the franchise, since December 2011 and continues to work with community feedback to improve its facilities.
Such improvements include an expanded drink menu, a more secluded dining room for customers who prefer a quieter dining experience, a new game room with easy access for parents and ADA compliant restrooms and dining areas.
Boyd said the renovations are geared toward making Beef ‘O’ Brady’s a pillar of the Apollo Beach area and allow him and his staff to give back to the community that has supported them.
“We want to support our community as much as possible,” he said. “We want them to feel they are the special guest that makes the world go round because, for us, they really are.”
And the expansion isn’t finished just yet. Boyd wants to eventually expand the restaurant to 4,000 square feet and add an outdoor dining area for guests.
Local residents have noticed the new improvements, said Boyd. Sales to date for the new owners are up 10 percent from this time last year, despite the time that they spent closed for the renovations.
With all of the changes, Boyd and Demo are careful to remember how their restaurant got where it is today. “This place belongs to Apollo Beach,” Boyd said. “We have regulars who have supported this place for 14 years and we want to make sure we continue to give them the same great food and service they’ve come to expect.”
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is located on Apollo Beach Blvd in the Publix plaza just west of U.S. 41.Call 641-1989 or visit www.beefobradys.com.
