Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Brenner.
Hi Michelle, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Everyone loves a good story, and the four of us still laugh about how this came about. Our favorite line is “this is what happens when you go out with several boaters to watch the air show and have a little too much to drink…you come home with a bar”! True story. A friend says “hey, would you like to buy a bar”…and “hell yeah” was my response! Ten days later the four of us had a bar!
Both couples are relatively new to SC. We have been residents a little over three years. The Love’s relocating from Atlanta and the Brenner’s from upstate NY. But both couples have spent years in the area with family and rentals. It’s the ideal place to calm down, destress and prepare to retire (little did we know). The one thing we all had in common was years as entrepreneurs and business success.
We knew The Fillin Station was an icon, we connected with the prior owners’ and things fell into place. Before we even knew what happeded…it happened! I recall walking in the door and thinkin” dear lord, what have we done”. Then we saw the view and the back deck, and knew we had made a good call.
Within a few weeks time we had a complete staff renewal. Not by choice, simply by design. But everything happens for a reason. We have one prior employee, and she is now our General Manager. She is a true god send. Along with her help we have established a strong bar staff that loves what they do. We now have a full kitchen staff with set kitchen hours, that put out terrific bar food in a 10 x 10 kitchen! It’s amazing!
As owners we have learned a lot about the business, but even more about the community and the camaraderie a this amazing small town. When we first purchased, word on the street was that we were tearing the icon down and putting up condos. That spread very quickly. Our solution? We had t-shirts made with The Fillin Station logo that said “phew…no condos here”! Needless to say we sold out of them very quickly.
The locals’ have embraced the positive changes that we have made, new tables, more tables, an open kitchen with great food, multiple nights every week of music and entertainment, Sunday brunch and most importantly, keeping it a place where EVERYONE belongs.
We have been blessed with the opportunity to own an icon and become a part of this community. Not to mention…keeping business strong and thriving even thru the Southern Winter months!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No business transaction is ever really smooth, but this was as smooth as could be expected. Yep, we did a few good shifts of tending bar and bussing tables. But when the olive branch went out for qualified staff, we were always fortunate enough to find them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Jeff and Heidi Love have years of experience in real estate as well as the medical spa business.
Randy and Michelle own and operate a vocational school and distribution business.
Both couples have extensive entrepeneurial histories and employee interaction skills. All of our backgrounds and business’s have depended on people skills and customer service. Precisely what a good Dive Bar needs!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Stop in, don’t let the exterior scare you off! Have a drink, a bite to eat and enjoy the view. We would LOVE to have you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefillinstationbft.com
- Instagram: fillinstationbeaufort
- Facebook: the Fillin’ Station
