Restaurant franchise Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is looking to expand its footprint in the Magnolia State as it seeks potential franchise owners in Meridian and beyond.

CEO Chris Elliott said the restaurant bills itself as a community oriented, family friendly sports bar that he believes will fit in well with Mississippi’s small town atmosphere.

“We are dying to get into Mississippi because we think it will be a perfect match for our brand,” he said.

Founded in Brandon, Florida, in 1985, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s offers a variety of chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches and more. The family sports pub now has 150 locations across 15 states. With locations operating in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, Mississippi is the next logical step, Elliott said.

Although the specifics are left up to the franchise owners, many Beef ‘O’ Brady’s locations incorporate memorabilia from local sports teams into the decor of the restaurant, Elliott said, including helmets, jerseys and even a full wall dedicated to a particular team.

Local sports are part of the foundation of a community, Elliott said, and the idea is to be a part of that community, not just a restaurant.

“It’s part of what we do,” he said. “It’s part of our DNA.”

Plans to open the state’s first Beef ‘O’ Brady’s are already in the works with the contracts signed and the restaurant scheduled to open in Columbus sometime next year, Elliott said. The company is also seeking franchise owners to bring locations to other metropolitan areas in Mississippi, including Meridian and Hattiesburg, he said.

Currently, the closest Beef ‘O’ Brady’s restaurants to Meridian are located in Birmingham, Spanish Fort and Prattville, Alabama.

In today’s economy, costs are high, Elliott said, and that has made things more difficult for some franchise owners. With potential reductions in interest rates and the upcoming presidential election, he said he believes things will settle down going into the end of the year.

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is hoping to move quickly with its expansion and have franchise deals signed before the end of the year, Elliot said. That would allow at least some of the locations to open for business in 2025.

“It’s ’25 if we’re lucky, ’26 if we’re not as lucky,” he said.

For information about franchise options, visit fscfranchiseco.com.