No more Firkin: Downtown Carson City brew pub changes name, keeps Fox
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Sat, 02/04/2017 - 2:17pm
Patrons of the popular English-style brew pub occupying the historic St. Charles Hotel in downtown Carson City may have already noted the new sign hanging above the establishment that fronts North Carson Street and the new Bob McFadden Plaza.
But there's no cause for alarm, said owner Jim Phalan, who just announced Saturday that his publick house restaurant and bar has officially changed its name to The Fox Brewpub.
Nothing else has changed.
Phalan said his decision to drop "The Firkin" from the former The Firkin and Fox publick house was actually made about eight months ago during construction of the downtown corridor revitalization project.
“My family and I had an option — do we renew our franchise agreement in February 2017 for an additional 10 years, or do we rebrand with a fresh new identity for the next decade?" Phalan said. "We chose the latter to better match our increasingly thriving downtown, and are all very excited about the name change and new branding.”
The Firkin and Fox was part of the Firkin Group of Pubs, a Toronto, Canada-based franchise. It was signed to a 10-year agreement that was up for renewal in February 2017, he said.
The decision to make the change wasn't easy, Phalan said, but it made the most sense given that the establishment was more or less operating independently.
“The choice to change the name and leave the brand was a hard decision,” Phalan said. “However, we have been running on our own for several years and it didn’t make financial sense to continue down the same path."
Phalan said he kept "The Fox" in the new brand name because of local familiarity. He said he understands what his customers have come to expect from the establishment, so he wanted to keep it recognizable for its consumer base.
"The Fox Brewpub is more than just a name," he said. "It’s a gathering place, a place where family and friends come to enjoy each other, our beautiful downtown, our atmosphere and our staff."
Friendliness and familiarity are both part of the formula that has given the brewpub notority in the Nevada state capital.
"We are like 'Cheers,' where everyone knows your name," Phalan said. "Combined with great service, great food and a huge selection of beverages, that is what makes us successful.”
Now that The Fox Brewpub is completely autonomous from The Firkin franchise, Phalan said he has a lot of ideas on how to further invest his business into the community.
“Since The Fox Brewpub is a locally and family-owned business, and no longer part of a franchise, we can focus on the future and new opportunities," he said. "We have some exciting plans for the extended future, but you’ll have to wait and see.”
The Fox Brewpub is a 100-seat restaurant with an additional 70 seats on the patio. An eclectic pub-style menu includes award-winning sandwiches, salads, burgers, chicken wings, pizzas and vegetarian options in addition to pub favorites like Guinness steak and mushroom pie, fish and chips, and specialty pot pies.
The Fox Brewpub hosts beer-tasting events, dinners featuring special chef creations paired with custom beers, live entertainment and a happy hour Monday through Friday. Open daily at 11 a.m.
For more information on The Fox Brewpub, visit www.foxbrewpub.com or like it on Facebook here.
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