RI Restaurateur Innovators Expanding In and Out of State
Saturday, August 17, 2019
A friendship that began more than 20 years ago is now turning into a business partnership that is driving an eclectic collection of restaurants that cover Rhode Island -- and is now expanding both in the state and into Massachusetts.
“It all started when we were 13-years-old as caddies at Alpine Country Club,” said Ed Brady, about how he first met his business partner and lifetime friend Jeff Quinlan.
Now, they are emerging as one of the region's most successful restaurant entrepreneurial teams.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe two have created multiple restaurant concepts and hit homers -- with some doubles with others -- and even a couple of strikeouts along the way. Remember the square donut, they don’t want to.
The two are ferocious innovators. And now the two have expanded their portfolio into Massachusetts.
Dig In Dining
Dig In Dining, Quinlan and Brady’s parent company, owns and operates The Thirsty Beaver Hometown Pub and Grub with locations in Cranston and Smithfield, Milk Money in Providence, Pink Pig BBQ in Jamestown, Huck’s Filling Station in Greenwich Bay (also opening at the end of the month), and Daisy Jo’s Hot Chicken and Biscuits in Warwick, Rhode Island.
Dig In Dining has brought its flagship brand The Thirsty Beaver Pub and Grub to the newly built Supercharged Entertainment location at 591 Washington Street in Wrentham, Massachusetts.
The complex features the largest indoor karting track in the world, a large scale ninja wipeout course, trampoline park, and full-scale arcade.
“Over the last seven years we have rapidly increased our portfolio to seven restaurants and built the team to over a hundred employees,” said Brady.
For the two-near lifetime friends, the difference is for Dig In Dining is being active in the community.
The two, along with the company, have helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for various nonprofits throughout Rhode Island.
They are the first to admit this growth and innovation would be possible without managing partners Corporate Chef Andrea Leonardo and Justin Erickson.
They say, “The Thirsty Beaver Pub & Grub is a stylish yet classic pub-staurant concept set in a distinctive and vibrant log cabin setting. A lumberjack's dream, our native pine dominant finishes both in and out are a true eye-catcher.”
“From the wide plank floors, to stained beams, to log lighting... even our bar top with authentic tree bark... all were tactfully designed in tribute to a true beaver's abode!”
If you think this expansion into Massachusetts is the end, don’t count on it.
Brady and Quinlan, aged 35 and 36 respectively, seem to be just getting started.
The grand opening of the Wrentham location is August 30 at 6 p.m.
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