The Hop, a craft beer and artisanal fare tasting room located in Beacon, New York, is the result of three visions. Chris Kavanaugh says he and his two partners each separately wanted to do their own thing, but when they met, they decided to merge their ideas into one venture: The Hop. Kavanaugh serves as owner/operator and CFO, Matt Hutchins as owner/operator and chef and John Kelly as owner/operator and beer curator.
Together they have turned The Hop into a success.
“Our business has definitely grown over the past four years,” Kavanaugh says. “We are very lucky to have great support from the community of Beacon. We started with three employees and now have 35.”
When The Hop opened four years ago, it started as a small craft beer store with a café, but in November 2014, they expanded into a full restaurant in a bigger location—adding 70 seats—as well as maintaining the retail beer store.
“I’d say our biggest success to date was moving the restaurant and keeping the same vibe, which I am very proud of,” Kavanaugh says.
He adds that their challenges are similar to those of all restaurant owners: “There are always cost increases, with the profit margin in restaurants being so slim and the labor costs continuing to increase.”
These struggles are a big part of why Kavanaugh turned to NFIB.
“I joined NFIB because I am concerned about the increasing regulations and costs to small business and wanted to keep up on them and be able to voice my concerns in an organized way,” he says.
NFIB membership also provides support and community with other small business owners. While being his own boss is a primary perk of small business ownership, Kavanaugh says it’s also the hardest part: “There is no one else to give you motivation to do things on a daily basis. You have to be dedicated and very self-directed to succeed.”
