By KEVIN BRADY
One of the most successful restaurant chains in Florida is offering a glimpse of its future while helping to give one young waitress a chance to secure hers.
Beef ’O’ Brady’s is experimenting with a new look at its Lincoln Road restaurant with bigger TVs, more prominent beer taps, a more modern color scheme — the old green everywhere motif is gone — and phone-charging stations at the bar. If it works in Riverview, expect to see its new look at Beefs throughout the nation.
“This location (Lincoln Road) has been here 15 years but has never been ‘reimaged’ so it’s an experiment with lots of different colors and textures and new things we are trying out (as a result) of some consumer research,” said Chris Elliott, Beef ’O’ Brady’s CEO who was on hand for a facelift party at the restaurant off Big Bend Road.
While more than 50 turned out for the party to celebrate the new look, the biggest cheer of the night was for Victoria Vincent, a young waitress who is pursuing a nursing degree at Hillsborough County Community College in Brandon. Vincent was awarded a $1,500 check to aid with her studies.
“It will make a huge difference for me,” said the Newsome High graduate. “I take out $5,500 a year in loans. That $1,500 can go so far. I can get a new laptop or books. Now I don’t have to take out a loan to get those things.”
Vincent has been working at the Riverview restaurant for a year and feels part of the crew there. “I love helping people. That is why I serve (at Beefs) and it’s why I want to be a nurse. I am a people person. Everyone here is family to me.”
“The employees here love her and call her a role model,” said Elliott, who went on to say that the company plans to make a scholarship donation to employees a regular event. “Today was the first time I met her, but now I see why she was the one chosen for the scholarship. She is great.”
Started in Brandon in 1985, the Tampa-based restaurant chain has 180 locations in 22 states. “Beefs has always stayed true to its roots of being family orientated and connected to the community,” Elliott said.
For information about Beef ’O’ Brady’s, visit https://www.beefobradys.com