When Ridham Bhatt lost his healthcare IT job in 2019 after his company closed, he chose to try restaurants instead. He had no restaurant experience. He teamed up with his cousin and a friend to open a Brass Tap in Rockwall in 2020.
Bhatt said the first six months were difficult, and he sometimes worked as many as 17 hours a day. He said the Rockwall community helped the business grow, and in 2022 it opened two more locations. Bhatt is now a multi-unit franchise owner with five locations operating in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The group recently opened an Anna location, and Bhatt expects the next wave of expansion over the next two to three years.
Bhatt said each restaurant is meant to be a gathering place. The locations host poker nights, karaoke and football watch parties, and the business supports local teams, schools and chambers of commerce through donations and community involvement. Bhatt said one of the biggest challenges is that people are drinking less than they once did, so the restaurants are working to attract customers who are not looking for a night centered on alcohol.