Former Cold Stone Manager Steps Into Ownership With Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Franchise

After working in food service concepts, both franchised and privately owned, Kevin Patel learned of an opportunity to invest in a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s location he spent his childhood visiting. Taking advantage of the opportunity to invest and give back to his community, Patel is excited about franchising with this family-friendly community hub.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Patel: When I was younger, I worked with my parents at their convenience store and laundromat. They always worked for themselves. I went to the University of Florida and got my bachelor’s in chemistry. I originally wanted to become a pharmacist. But when I started working at a pharmacy, I was shadowing the pharmacist and quickly realized it wasn’t for me. During this time period, I also started working at a Cold Stone Creamery in Miami. Within five months, I was an operations manager checking in on [the owner’s] multiple locations.

When I left there, I helped my friend with a smoothie concept. It was healthy fast food, and he had his own branding. We had smoothies, bowls and a build-your-own salad bar. We ended up opening a second location downtown. We brought on another partner and sold 33% of the company to him, but part of that deal was that he would have to open up five full-investment stores. That worked out great. Once we got to the 10-unit mark, we went to a franchise marketing event to think about becoming a franchisor. Around the same time that I was considering entering franchising in that sense, my uncle Keyur called my parents to let them know that the Clewiston Beef ‘O’ Brady’s had come up for sale.

I grew up there and always wanted to give back. I partnered up with my uncle, so I have 40% ownership in the Clewiston location. Giving back through Beef ‘O’ Brady’s became my new thing, and we’ve been expanding ever since. We opened Verandah a year later.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Patel: Working with the Cold Stone owner gave me an idea of how it worked. I knew the dos and don’ts, and I had seen how people can use loopholes to make adjustments. You have to follow the guidelines set by the franchisor, but there are still things you can do to make your location better for yourself and your customers.

It’s a really good opportunity. You have a lot of support from corporate and district managers. If you’ve never been in business, you have a lot of support people to help you compared to what you would have if you were just opening up your own brand. You can have your own brand. But if you want to, maybe consider getting into franchising first to learn the dos and don’ts before you get into building something independently. It’s a really good stepping stone in creating your own brand and company.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Patel: Meeting people and getting to know the community is very fulfilling. Many Beef ‘O’ Brady’s locations are opened up in little towns and cities; they’re about giving back to the community and being local. It’s a family-friendly sports pub. You can bring kids, babies, seniors and everyone in between. You get to know everyone through the restaurant, and you know that those people have your back. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Patel: We want to expand. As we grow, we want to continue to be a staple in the community where people can come eat, hang out, watch sports and host private events. We also want to be that spot in the community that everyone knows they can go to. We’re into helping out everywhere we can. 

The recent remodel was another way for us to do this. People get tired of looking at the same thing, and they’ve been coming here for 15 years. We wanted to give it a fresh look with new tables, chairs, paint and menus. We redid the game room, too, so it can be a comfortable place for both kids and parents. We want everyone to have a good time. The next thing we’re looking forward to is redoing the floors and bar top. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Patel: A lot of people think that I’ve gotten to where I’m at because of my parents and the fact that they had their own businesses, but that’s not the case. I’ve worked for every single thing I have and what I’ve done. From working and managing four Cold Stone locations to helping open 10 smoothie locations in Miami to now working with Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, I did it myself. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Patel: It is a lot of work, but if you put in the time and effort, you will reap the benefits of your work and labor. You will be able to grow and expand. People that get into franchises then don’t put the work in just because they have the owner title might not succeed. You don’t have to be on-site seven days a week from open to close, but you need a good support cast that you can trust while you’re away.

If you’re looking into it, I’d do some research. Find a good company that you’re interested in, and get some information. Talk to the other franchisees, see how they like it and go from there.

The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Beef ‘O’ Brady’s sports pub ranges from $809,325 to $1,290,850, including a $40,390 franchise fee. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit beefobradysfranchise.com.

ABOUT BEEF 'O' BRADY’S 

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is a franchise of family sports pubs that provides the perfect atmosphere for friends and families to watch the game and grab a bite. With a focus on providing value without sacrificing quality, the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s menu features delicious family favorites like award-winning wings, fresh Angus burgers, crisp salads, USDA Choice Cut sirloin and grilled salmon, along with a kids’ menu and a full bar for the adults. Beef 'O' Brady's is strongly dedicated to community involvement through ongoing partnerships with local schools, youth sports leagues and other community groups. Beef 'O' Brady's currently operates 140 locations in 21 states. For more information about franchising opportunities, visit beefobradysfranchise.com.