Redneck Heaven began as a hybrid of Arnold’s from Happy Days, The Boar’s Nest from the Dukes of Hazard, and Sam Malone’s Cheers. Finally, after 20 months of preparation, the first Redneck Heaven was ready to open…3 days early! Not because we were ready, but because I had exhausted the entire budget down to $11.90. I was still creating recipes for our limited menu the morning we opened, August 18, 2008.

It had been over 10 years since I’d left a career in restaurant management and began working in food service distribution sales. A little rusty, indeed! My background began as a food server at Chili’s back in the late 80’s, then managing for Black-eyed Pea, Hooters, and Posado’s Café. The transition to food sales let me see the restaurant industry in a different light, filled with lessons of what to do and what not to do for your concept to be successful. Most sports bar concepts are usually created by a group of guys, after having a few at the bar, thinking they could pool their money and open their own bar and they could all drink for free and their friends would love them and spend all their time there and they would be sooooo happy and live like rockstars, etc.etc.etc. I witnessed the chain of events at least a dozen times. They all ended up the same: FAIL!

So how is Redneck Heaven different? We live by the mantra, “Have Fun, Make Friends, Make Money, Repeat.” Understand that this is not just the mission for me personally, but for all the dedicated employees