From Hotel Hallways to Taproom: 23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings The Brass Tap to Tennessee

At just 23 years old, Ohm Patel is ready to begin a new business venture in Tennessee, bringing the state its very first taste of The Brass Tap. Having grown up watching his family operate hotels and local businesses, the Mississippi State graduate recently signed an agreement to develop three units in the greater Nashville area, targeting communities like Brentwood, Murfreesboro and Franklin. For Patel, the move isn't just about expansion; it’s an opportunity to create a local neighborhood hub from the ground up for diverse communities.

Patel grew up watching his father and uncle manage hotels and stores after his family moved to the United States more than 20 years ago. Witnessing his loved ones scrape together every penny to build a better life for themselves in the United States inspired Patel to honor and carry forward that multigenerational grit.

Patel recently sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss his family’s hospitality background and his plans to bring The Brass Tap to Tennessee. Here’s what he had to say:

Ohm Patel: I am a pretty simple person, and my main focus is on bringing people together. The ultimate goal with this project is to connect communities like Brentwood and build what feels like a big community center. I have always loved helping people in any way that I can, and I want our locations to reflect that welcoming environment.

Patel: I grew up in the hospitality industry, living in hotels with my dad and watching him run businesses. My family has been in the United States for over 20 years managing hotels and retail locations, so the hospitality mindset is second nature to me. Recently, I completed my bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and business from Mississippi State University.

While I am not planning to work directly in the field of kinesiology right now, I am putting 100 percent of my focus into growing this business. One day, my dad saw an opportunity with The Brass Tap and brought it to me. We looked into it as a family, and everything clicked from there.

Patel: Franchising has always been a part of my life because my dad has served on various franchise boards and operated within hotel systems before. I always knew I wanted to be a part of one myself.

Patel: When we were researching the brand, our family traveled to Huntsville, Alabama, to visit a local store, and we absolutely loved it. Shortly after, we attended Discovery Day at the corporate headquarters in Tampa and spent two days meeting the leadership team. The corporate support has been incredible.

You can call the CEO, CFO or the managers day or night, and they will pick up the phone to help. They don't just give a franchise to anyone; they really pick and choose their people, and I feel fortunate to work with them. I love that the brand relies on a strong suburban concept and focuses on bringing neighborhoods together with fun weekly traditions like karaoke, game nights and community events on the patio.

Patel: My immediate goal is to establish our first location in Brentwood and make it a place where local residents can truly come in, relax, and feel right at home. Since there are currently no locations in Tennessee, it's a huge opportunity to introduce the concept to the market. Long-term, we have signed on for three locations, so we will focus on establishing Brentwood first, followed by Murfreesboro and Franklin, though our final site selections are still flexible as we scout the market.

Patel: This is a family legacy project. My uncle Sanjay, my cousin and business partner, Shivam and my dad, Chan, are all part of this. We scraped pennies when we were young kids to build a life for us, and now we are fortunate to be in a position to build this business together. I want to build on the foundation my family gave us and continue that legacy for future generations. Thank you to Steve Slowey, who is the director of franchise development. I also want to thank Terry and Josephine Snavely for letting me tour their first Brass Tap and sharing a lot of great information with me.

Patel: I would honestly say to just try it; just step into it and see how it is. But don’t just go into it thinking that you’re going to be able to do it right away. There will be ups and downs, highs and lows, but just remember what your overall goal is.

Founded in Tampa, Florida, FSC Franchise Co. is a leading multi-brand franchisor driving growth and innovation across three dynamic restaurant concepts — Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, The Brass Tap and Newk’s Eatery. With more than 250 locations nationwide, FSC brings together decades of expertise in hospitality, franchising and community engagement under one unified platform.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, with 120-plus family sports pub locations, serves up classic comfort food and community spirit in a neighborhood-friendly setting. The Brass Tap is a 50-plus-unit craft beer bar and entertainment venue that offers an extensive menu of drinks and food in a vibrant atmosphere. Newk’s Eatery, a 100-unit fast-casual brand founded in Jackson, Mississippi, brings fresh, handcrafted food to guests with a focus on quality ingredients, digital convenience and hospitality.

Together, FSC’s brands are redefining what it means to grow a scalable, community-driven restaurant portfolio — offering franchisees the opportunity to diversify within a powerful ecosystem of proven concepts.

The Brass Tap is a Tampa-based American tavern and entertainment venue known for its extensive local and regional brewery offerings, specialty cocktails and premium wines paired perfectly with a select menu of upscale shareables. Every location provides a unique space for social gatherings and entertainment, with an unparalleled atmosphere created through live music, trivia, sports, exclusive beer tastings and tap takeovers. For more than 10 years, The Brass Tap has offered franchise opportunities to qualified operators, continuing to grow its family of 50+ bars in 16 states. For more information, visit