Brent Tipps, Owner of Sidecar Social, describes how the Dallas Region’s vibrant energy led his thriving restaurant company to select Addison as the home base of its newest innovative social lounge concept.
How does Sidecar Social help other businesses become more effective?
The exciting business climate in Addison drew us to the area. It takes a special area to support an innovative concept such as ours. We host special parties just for people who work in the hospitality and service industry once a week. We also rely on local vendors as much as possible. As owner, I work hard with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, dedicating much of my free time to mentoring and supporting fellow business owners. Of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I’ve been blown away by the support we’ve received, particularly the number of private events booked by local businesses at our venue. We’re lucky to be in a city that is full of businesses willing to try something new for team building and celebratory events — and we’re lucky to have an enormous space that accommodates groups of all sizes, as well as an incredible event team that offers one-on-one support and customized packages.
What differentiates your company from others in your industry?
We’ve been fortunate to have many successful concepts, and that has given us the experience needed to launch innovative ones such as Sidecar Social. First and foremost, we believe in the value our product and its ability to attract our customers. However, we feel the commitment our business makes to the community and our team also differentiates us. We support more than a dozen charities, including Operation Kindness, a local organization that is one of the largest no-kill shelters in North Texas. This commitment extends to our team; our managers are required to take three days off a week and much of our corporate office consists of employees who were promoted from within. We ensure everyone on our team gets the support they need and can have fun. No wonder we’ve made the The Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 Places to Work in DFW list three times!
What do you enjoy most about doing business in the Dallas Region?
It takes a special place to support such an innovative concept. We view Sidecar Social as a social dining experience, and there isn’t anything like it nearby in Addison. Most companies in our industry identify solely as a restaurant, bar, or gaming venue, but we fall into all of those categories and more. We boast 18-foot TVs, live music, karaoke, and gaming activities such as pingpong, pop-a-shot, shuffleboard, and an oversized foosball table. But this isn’t an arcade. We serve elevated craft cocktails and scratch-kitchen dishes that fit in well with our luxurious, old-school chic, décor. It’s the kind of place where you feel like you could lounge around all day — we like to think of it as the reward you deserve for working hard all day.
Why did you decide to become a DRC member?
As described above, supporting other businesses matters to us. We believe we thrive only when the whole community thrives. Supporting our neighbors isn’t just being generous, it’s also good business – though we also just like the people, too.
How has your business changed in the past five years?
Five years ago, our parent company consisted of 12 restaurants —11 BoomerJack’s Grill & Bars, a laid-back sports bar; and a live-music venue, Bedford Ice House. We are preparing to open our 14th BoomerJack’s just weeks after we successfully opened the innovative Sidecar Social. Bedford Ice House is moving into an exciting new era. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be named an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW Inc., and I definitely wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of the Dallas Region business community.