As the Bryan College Station community shifts into a new way of living in light of COVID–19, there have been behind-the-scenes works introduced to help our community keep running. One of them includes the formation of a group of local businesses and restaurants who support each other by exchanging ideas and suggestions for sustaining their businesses. While this group hasn’t made an official name, their landing site is titled BCS Local Flavor.
“We are not doing anything outside of the realm of just basic sharing information, to be honest, and the ability to market ourselves to large businesses, and that’s been our effort,” says Wade Beckman, current owner of Shipwreck Grill and other businesses, and founder and former president of Taste of BCS.
As the community moves deeper into adapting social distancing and other safety precautions, businesses are also trying to stay open. The purpose of this effort is to hold open conversations among the group and perform duties that include people and staff sharing, supply-line sharing, overall idea sharing, and delivery and to-go services.
What started as 30 restaurants that agreed there were strength in numbers, and it would be wise to communicate, became 52 restaurants, says Beckman.
“The biggest value is us sharing information in this really turbulent climate, of what’s really working and not working,” says Beckman.
Under the leadership of United Way of the Brazos Valley and Meals on Wheels, they discussed various ideas that stretched across local charities, local businesses, and local employees. Some of these ideas have been utilized, and the group has managed to do impactful things in the community, says Beckman. Most notably, they have worked with other local charities and churches to supply meals to those in need at a large number.
“Very early on, again before the shelter in place, I had an idea to team up with potential charities and have a three-way win,” says Beckman on his strategy to support businesses and their employees while also giving back.
As the group grows and works to build their connections, they have had conference calls with local, state, and federal leaders including Congressman Bill Flores, Representative John Cornyn, top leaders with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson, and College Station Mayor Karl Mooney.
“The biggest thing was to one, express [concerns], but to hear what the cities were doing, in particular, for independent restaurants,” says Beckman.
These connections have allowed BCS Local Flavor to be assigned administration from the city of Bryan to help with organization and coordination of their efforts, Beckman says.
“The Texas Restaurants Association and the president of the local TRA is in our group and he has also kept us all informed through webinars on [things like] new loans that came out, unemployment, and others,” says Beckman.
The group has already reached other businesses including grocery stores and hardware stores, and they are even working to reach apartment complexes to help support their tenants.
As these businesses share what is working and what is not, they are all working to create the best model to help other restaurants succeed, says Beckman.
“When you can pick up the phone and send out a text about something good or bad, or a question, or when someone says, ‘Hey, I got this line to go through, and this is what I did,’ it’s amazing,” says Beckman. “What I know [this group] will do is continue to provide valuable information to each of us based upon all the things we’re doing.”
Beckman says he hopes the group can continue like everything else in the world, after COVID-19 precautions have been taken, and just be a place to share information.
“You just wouldn’t think 52 restaurants and bars that compete with each other would take the time out to help somebody else,” says Beckman. “That is a pretty incredible thing. I could not imagine getting as far as I have in my own businesses without this group.”
Restaurants interested in being a part of this group can email Wade Beckman at wade@shipwreckbcs.com.
The community can donate to the group and see all the participating restaurants here: www.bcslocalflavor.com.
