Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Brooks.
Hi Casey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As soon as I could ride my bike or get someone to drop me off I began my first job (14) at the Charcoal Grill in Parkville, MD. Adding a second job to the day, I began to work nights at Gene’s (Perry Hall Liquors) (15) for many years growing my knowledge of beer, wine and spirits. Staying local allowed me to attend Culinary School in 2002 at the time it was called BIC in Baltimore City. (Baltimore International Culinary School) While there, I worked Tuesdays, Thursdays and some shifts for others for a few years at Chiapperellis in Baltimores (Little Italy). Shortly after opening a restaurant with the late Carmelo Fertitta and his family on Alicanna Street in Fells Point called Due Isole. After that went on to open 2 locations of my original job the Charcoal Grill in Perry Hall and Edgewood, MD. In 2008 Owned and operated Caseys Bar & Restaurant in Parkville, Md 21234 for a decade. At the age of 23-33, Through the years employing the community, hosting tons of events from sausage eating contests to Ravens Q&A nights to Thanksgiving Eve Tent Parties – it was always about the community and keeping everyone together. As operating a bar almost a decade later it was clear that the future in the “bar” business was coming to and end so decided to sell the restaurant to another local restaurant group and begin the journey into a new space now called Brookside Market in Phoenix, MD Opened 2018 March. 7 1/2 years later, three kids, and 54 employees as of today – the dream of the place is now a reality. Backboned by staff that has been with our Family for 15 years. The importance of working with the right people, in this business really allows for an amazing outcome. Luke, Johnny, Maria, Trey and more
This past year we finally launched our non profit (Heart of Gold Foundation) to further show our community commitment that we have always shown to be the most important value to our brand where year 1 we raised over 100k and were able to help a local family.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Anyone in this business will laugh at this question knowing the answer. Never a smooth road, but with the right staff, community and work ethic – roads can be repaved.
Struggles are there aren’t enough hours in a day to “Make it” early mornings, if you slept, late nights, long hours and the fact that when you have employees that you actually care about – you have the pressure of making sure that they are happy. Failure was not an option. Rent didn’t stop, payroll was every other week, taxes are still on the 20th. There are still struggles today as our industry has changed and is continuing to change – COVID was special !! It really tested most in this business and as you noticed that the creative ones, big word of covid – PIVOTED and some did not.
Being tired 24/7 sleeping at family functions, missing the beginning and ends of parties, missing a vacation or two, shoveling snow so you could open during a blizzard etc etc etc
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Brookside Market ?
(Brooks) last name BROOKS(side) Market – as the first restaurant I bought was already named Caseys – this one we made off the last name. Most people didnt/don’t know that
Family friendly “cheers type” feel, where families and specifically children are welcomed. We are still a mom and pop shop feel, where in a day and age of the “franchise” “kiosk ordering screens” is rare
Im proud myself to wear the brand it means more then the logo, it stands for community, family and culture. We are 7 days a week SUNDAYS closed at 4;00 to make sure everyone gets time with the family. We do a ton of offsite catering, food truck luncheons or cooperate events and we have a mobile brick oven pizza rig that we love pulling up to wedding after the bride and groom are official.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Now that I’m 40 I would have never realized that I love watching people evolve after they leave us. They comeback to eat with there now families, new cars and some even go on to open there own business. My self included hanging with my own family is what really gets my blood flowing these days. Watching my own staff start there own families –
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brookside.market
- Instagram: @brookside.market
- Facebook: brooksidemarket2018
