Queen Creek native Jesse Herfel and his wife, Karen, have been real estate agents for over 25 years in the East Valley and decided to branch out recently to become new bar owners in Gilbert.
Both native Arizonans are no strangers to the world of business and franchising. The couple owns two real estate companies in Gilbert and decided last year to leverage their entrepreneurial experience to open a third business, but not in real estate. The Herfels are now among the newest franchisees with The Brass Tap, a growing bar and entertainment franchise with nearly 50 locations in markets across the U.S. Their new Gilbert location opened in December at 2442 S. Recker Road, providing up to 40 new jobs for the area.
As owners of the Keller Williams Integrity First Real Estate franchise and Jesse Herfel Real Estate Group in Gilbert, the Herfels have been heavily invested in the local community and saw a need in Gilbert for quality bars and breweries. The duo began their search for the perfect bar concept to bring to their community. They were soon impressed by the wide selection of menu offerings with The Brass Tap. Most of all, they were thrilled to be a part of the new multi-use space coming to Gilbert, the Verde at Cooley Station, that will allow local residents to enjoy the indoor and outdoor space.
The couple's real estate knowledge helped them decide on the location at the corner of Williams Field and Recker roads, where a 24,000-square-foot office building is planned and over 30,000 residences are within walking distance. With the rollout of other bars, restaurants and retail developments, it's quickly becoming the happening location, they said.
“We chose Brass Tap because we really liked the concept and that it was a community-oriented brand,” said Jesse Herfel. “We’re excited to have our Brass Tap be a place where people can come together and celebrate with one another. From an operational standpoint, we wanted to bring this concept to the underserved market since it lacks quality bars/breweries.”
Karen Herfel added that "the bars and breweries in the area are very small and don’t have a wide variety of offerings. Our Brass Tap location (is) much larger and can host special events both in and outdoors. We also offer craft beer, a full bar and an amazing wine selection catering to everyone’s needs.”
The Brass Tap is a Tampa-based craft beer bar and entertainment venue known for its extensive localized brewery offerings, specialty cocktails and premium wines paired perfectly with a select menu of upscale shareables. Every location provides a unique space for social gatherings and entertainment, with an atmosphere created through live music, trivia, sports, beer tastings and tap takeovers. The franchise signed 10 new deals last year alone and is rapidly making its way across the nation with openings in new markets.
“We are fortunate to be growing quickly with franchisees like the Herfels,” said Jamie Cecil, Brass Tap’s vice president of franchise development. “We are excited to continue to grow with their team across the greater Gilbert area."
For more information on The Brass Tap franchise opportunities, visit thebrasstapfranchise.com.
