Business Spotlight: New Arby's owners have their roots in Carson City

When the Brower Family purchased the local Arby's franchise, located at 1122 South Carson Street, in June 2017 they had it in mind all along to use it as a vehicle to invest in their community.

"We are grateful to be able to give back to Carson City," co-owner Dusty Brower said. "We have been residents of Carson City for 30 years."

In search of a local business they could grow with, the Browers decided Arby's was the right investment at the right time for them. Prior to this franchise, they had owned three Sizzler restaurants, Dusty said.

"We saw an opportunity for a good investment," she said. "We are familiar with food service."

Dusty's parents, Jack and Mary, complete the Brower family triumvirate that now owns Arby's in Carson City. Jack is a commercial realtor in the area and Mary is a business consultant.

Together with their daughter, Dusty, the Browers are keeping with the rural Nevada tradition of a small, family-owned business that puts its community first.

The Browers give food monthly to Fountainhead Foursquare Church youth group in South Carson City for distribution into the community. They are also associated with No Kid Hungry, a national campaign of Share Our Strength, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to fighting hunger and poverty across the United States.

That organization identifies need in the local community, and the Browers respond twice a year with food donations that help the hungry and needy in Carson City.

The local Arby's franchise gives the family the means to do this for the less fortunate in Carson City, Dusty said, while also providing jobs for residents and another restaurant option for diners.

"We are a fast-crafted service restaurant looking forward to serving our locals and providing jobs," she said. "We want to make this a great experience for employees and guests."

Along with the franchise purchase, though, Browers recognized that their first big investment was going to be the restaurant itself. They wanted to give it a fresh, new look as part of its transformation into the community, Dusty said.

"We came in knowing that the restaurant needed to be remodeled," she said. "Corporate was going to require the remodel to be done within the next five years, but we decided to do it as soon as possible."

Changes started with kitchen equipment, Dusty said, to ensure the food produced was of highest quality.

"Arby’s has quality fresh cut meat," she said. "With our new state-of-the-art equipment, we know we are serving higher quality food."

Then in December 2017, the 1,200 square-foot lobby and dining room were remodeled from top to bottom.

"There is nothing left from the prior dining room," she said, noting that the dining area now has seating for about 60 guests.

The interior remodel took about 17 days, she said, and was completed in January of this year.

Later on this year as weather improves, Dusty said the restaurant's exterior will receive a fresh coat of paint to complete the 3,000 square-foot building's new look inside and out.

Future plans also include updating the drive-thru and parking lot, Dusty said.

"We know that we wanted a fresh look," she said. "We were excited that Arby’s corporate had a new style and wanted to go in that direction."

Dusty said the changes are meant to enhance guest experience, reflecting both the corporate and her family's personal philosophies in business.

"We are focused on customer service," she said. "We bring the food to your table with a smile on our face."

The Carson City Arby's is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 775-883-1814 or visit arbys.com to learn what's on the menu.