Thank you for over a decade of memories
Thank you to all of those who I was able to meet, cheers a beer with, take a shot with and engage with over my 13 years representing the Brother Jimmy’s BBQ Brand in both NYC and Florida. Thank you to those who mentored and guided me though my experiences. It was through Brother Jimmy’s that I met and married my wife, added three beautiful children to our family, and built the foundation for our journey through life together.
A new opportunity has emerged, and I’ve stepped away from the Brother Jimmy’s Brand for now, but the memories and stories will last beyond my lifetime. I look forward to what the future holds for the Brother Jimmy’s Brand. It is a special place and I’ve felt bless to be able to be a part of it.
I’ve added a feel-good piece, written by Anielka Drabinski, that truly shows how special of a place Brother Jimmy’s is and how great is was to be a part of it all.
A Day in the life of a Brother Jimmy’s Waitress
by Anielka Drabinski
The sound of a whistle blows. “Can someone do me a favor and follow me with this beer tower?” the waitress exclaims. She’s already got a tray full of drinks in her hand as she flies past you, not a single drop spilled. The smell of pickle juice lingers, table 8 has just ordered the infamous pickle-back shots. They erupt in thunderous applause: high-fiving one another like they’d just won a championship.
At Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, the waitresses are here to create an experience. We want you to eat, sure. And we have no doubt you’ll enjoy the food, but we also want you to keep coming back: for the fun, for the booze, for the atmosphere. At Jimmy’s, we know you by name. Think “Cheers", add a little country flair, a shot or two of Jameson and you’ve got the recipe to a party you’ll never want to leave. Working at Brother Jimmy’s, is like having a basement party at your mama’s house, while she’s out of town. Except this time, if the cops show up, we invite them in for a round or two.
Someone once said, “if you love what you do, you never have to work a day in your life”. If working for Brother Jimmy’s isn’t the perfect illustration for said statement, I don’t know what is. The thing is: we’re all friends. In fact, we’ve created such a tight-knit bond between us, I fear we may one day morph into one super-human server. Terrifying in concept, though extremely effective, I would think. We are the best of friends, and we work well together: a combination that is seldom easy to find, but we make it look flawless. I’ve had waiting jobs long before I worked for Brother Jimmy’s, and none compare. They’re usually quite robotic: you come in, you serve food. You count tips, and you leave. Not here. We don’t come into work because we “have” to; we do it because we want to. Some of us spend eight days a week at Brother Jimmy’s, and all jokes aside, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Living in New York can get overwhelming. Between the noise, the people and the fact that everyone seems to be in a hurry no matter where they’re headed; it’s nice to find solace in a place that takes our stress away. The restaurant is home, away from home and in so many ways, it is the perfect escape. Every Brother Jimmy’s location is unique. We each have our own personality, and that certain “je ne sais quoi” that continues to draw people in, day after day.
Having been born and raised in New York City, I always get this reaction: “... but you’re from the city, how can you like Country music?” How can I not? How can anyone dislike something that reminds us of summertime with our friends, tailgating at a football game, and laughing until your insides hurt? There is romance in Country music, there is comfort and positivity in Country music.
How did I start working at Brother Jimmy’s? The short version: I was craving
BBQ and an ambiance that would remind me of my North Carolina college days. And the rest, as they say, is history. But my favorite story about Brother Jimmy’s, is one that few people know about:
A few years ago, approximately a year before I started working for the company, it was the night of my birthday. It was dark December night, it had just rained and the city streets were cold, dreary and empty. My birthday falls around the holidays, so many of my friends were out of town. Sure, we had gone out to celebrate a few days before, but the night of my actual birthday, I was alone. At the time, I was living on the UWS, and everything ((except for)) a dingy bodega seemed to be desolate. Brother Jimmy’s was the only bar whose lights were still on. Curious, I wandered in. I was stopped at the door by the bouncer, who informed me that they “were closing early" because it was was the night of their Christmas party.” Defeated, I turned towards the door but before I could reach for the knob, the bouncer grabbed my shoulder. “Why do you look so sad?” he inquired, and I explained my situation. “Well,” he continued “no one should be alone on their birthday. We still have some things to do, before we leave. Stay and have a drink.” Back then, I didn’t know I would one day be a part of the Brother Jimmy’s family, but even then, I already felt a part of something magical.
At Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, our co-workers become family, and our regulars become friends. We raise a toast to the good days, and the bad. To the touchdowns, the promotions, the birthdays and the bachelorette parties. We raise our glasses to you, the customer. We come into work, fully confident that one way or another, we are going to have fun. Whether we’re introducing a table to the “Swamp Water” for the first time, or dancing on the bar, we do it with smile and grace. Our motto is, “be nice or leave” but you won’t want to. And so, we lace up our red Chuck Taylors and dust off our cowboy boots. We tie the blue apron around our waist...three, two, one: the sound of a whistle blows.