Beefeaters Restaurant is changing ownership, but the long-standing fixture in the community will be keeping its quality food, menu, staff and ambiance.
Dominick Cottone is selling the business to Todd Hennard, and the two men sat down with The Era in the bar area of the old Carnegie’s library on Friday to discuss the transition.
Hennard, who owns several other businesses and properties in downtown Bradford, said he is excited to acquire Beefeaters and has no plans of fixing something that isn’t broken.
“I never thought I would get back into the restaurant business, but if there was one I would buy it was this one, so when it came available I jumped at the chance,” he said. “It’s such an asset to the community, it needs to be locally owned and operated.
“Everything is going to stay the same, this has been the model of consistency for a restaurant,” Hennard continued. “We want to keep the same quality and service. It’s the best restaurant in town and there’s no reason to change it.”
He said the only changes he may implement would involve daily specials and possibly utilizing the downstairs space that was once Afterwords and is now used as a banquet space. One concern he has for hosting happy hours in the basement bar is the lack of parking — with many people parked to go to the bar, others may pass by the restaurant believing it to be too busy, harming business in the upstairs portion.
Hennard noted the restaurant currently serves lunch Wednesday through Friday, but he is tossing around the idea of serving lunch during the early part of the week as well. He also mentioned that all gift certificates bought before the changeover will certainly be honored.
The total purchase comes with the sub shop building next door, where Beefeater’s baking is done, as well as the building at 17 Congress St. Hennard says he expects the purchase to be finalized in the next month or so.
“We’re hoping at least by Valentine’s Day by the look of it,” Hennard said, explaining that the property was never really on the market, so to speak. “I didn’t want it to go to someone from out of town or someone that would change it to something totally different.”
Cottone said he is glad to hand over the reins to Hennard, who owns businesses including the Main Street Moviehouse, Main Street Mercantile and Main Street Antiques.
“One of the reasons that I approached Todd, I’d known him for a while, and it’s something that he would be able to cross-market with his other businesses,” Cottone said. “He can do different packages like a movie and dinner, to help keep people in town.”
Cottone said after 17 years as the head of Beefeaters, it will be bittersweet to step away, but he is confident that the business is in good hands.
“I’ve been doing this all my life, since I was 17, and I’ve been at this location for 17 years. Business is good, stronger than ever, but I’m just burnt out,” he explained. “When you buy a business like this, you get that excitement, that charge, new energy and ideas — I’m ready to take some time for myself.”
Cottone said the most rewarding part of his time with Beefeaters was meeting “so many nice people and customers, and making friends.
“The memories will always stay with me,” he said. “In this business, you meet a lot of people. Todd is a good business man and well respected, and I hope people give him a chance.”
Hennard, himself, was in the restaurant business for 15 years before getting into the construction business. “Now, I guess it’s time to return to that a bit. I’ve got my food safety certifications, and I’m all ready to go.”
Lauren Marshall, marketing and sales manager for Hennard’s businesses, said the acquisition will make a nice addition to his holdings.
“It fits brilliantly in our downtown family of businesses, and it fits into our plans of rejuvenating the area and keeping Main Street thriving,” Marshall said. “We have a really great team and with our combined experience, we all feel really confident. The staff is fantastic and were really excited about it.”
Hennard added that the purchase has been in the works for a few months and he is “excited for it to finally come to fruition.
“It’s a great business for our company. All of these possibilities we are talking about are things we can look at and try to enhance, but it’s already a wonderful business as it stands,” Marshall said. “It’s something to be proud of and proud that it is staying here in Bradford.”
