Dick Franyo, owner of the Boatyard Bar and Grill in Annapolis (a longtime PropTalk supporter), has announced a partnership with Atlas Restaurant Group. He shared the following message to friends of the Boatyard:
"Two years ago, as I approached my 80th birthday and the Boatyard’s 25th anniversary, I began actively searching for a way to keep the Boatyard tradition alive for that sad but inevitable day when I was unable to be directly involved in the business. In this process, I spoke with a number of individuals and restaurant groups, hoping to find that partner who understands what makes the Boatyard great and is willing and able to carry on the tradition as an integral part of the Annapolis community.
As you know, the way we run the Boatyard is not typical and requires substantial investment in staff and community philanthropy and requires a long-term view. I am deeply proud of the way we have operated the business and its positive impact on the community.
Since the day we opened our doors in 2001, we have run the Boatyard caring and obsessing deeply (we call it "agonizing") about every guest experience, we have generously and fairly compensated our staff, we unfailingly treat our service and product suppliers with respect, and we have invested in a long term culture of actively and purposefully giving back to the community in many ways. The Boatyard’s community engagement includes our well-known outdoor events, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Bands in the Sand, the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Boatyard Beach Bash, the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (C.R.A.B.) Regatta, and our first event, the Boatyard Opening Day Fishing Tournament (which after 20 years we had to cease due to current Rockfish Trophy Season Regulations). Along the way, we have been active sponsors of all the Maritime Republic of Eastport’s (MRE) fun (and funny) events, and we provide and fund the Boatyard Film Boat with an amazing T2P video team that are always on the sailboat racecourse capturing all the action.
Running the Boatyard in this manner is a model that most restaurateurs would not subscribe to, but we would not have done it differently. We sacrificed profits for community and for causes and it has been worth it!
As a result of my search process, I became totally convinced that Atlas Restaurant Group was the best partner to keep the Boatyard “the Boatyard". Alex Smith and his team are fully committed to continuing the Boatyard in the same spirit and tradition that we have worked so hard to build. I thoroughly trust Alex and his team. As a result, I am excited to announce that effective mid-February, Atlas will become our majority partner to carry the Boatyard into the foreseeable future.
To help this partnership work for both the Boatyard and our community, we have agreed that I am not going anywhere. While Atlas will bring its operational expertise and proven track record of success to the partnership, it was important to me to remain a part of daily life at the Boatyard, so I will continue as both a partner and active participant in the restaurant just as I have for these past 25 years. I will remain on the scene full time, helping to lead the business alongside 21-year Boatyard veteran GM Kevin Schendel and his management team. I plan to continue to set the tone on site, to welcome guests, to work with our charity causes, and to check the bathrooms and pick up trash for as long as I want (maybe 85 is good target!). Chef Scott and his kitchen crew will continue to exceed expectations on the culinary side.
All my close friends have told me, "Dick don't wait for some age-related event to force you to deal with the Boatyard’s future, do it on your own terms and you will achieve your goal of the Boatyard staying the 'Boatyard.'" For me, this arrangement provides certainty on continuity as I move further into my 80's and the community maintains the Boatyard as a keystone asset. It is the goal of all of us involved in this partnership for you to experience no changes in the Boatyard experience going forward.
Please feel free to call me directly at 410-336-8880. Thank you for your understanding and continued support."
~Dick Franyo, Owner, Boatyard Bar & Grill
This partnership will expand the Atlas Restaurant Group's portfolio to five businesses in Annapolis: The Choptank Annapolis, the Boatyard Bar & Grill, the Admiral's Cup (coming soon), and Marmo and Armada (both set to open at a later date in the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel). Stay tuned for updates.