Earlier this summer (June 13), The Broken Tap celebrated their 4 year anniversary. We sat down with Stacy Hawkins for a quick Q & A to catch up.
Interview with owner, Stacy Hawkins
When did you start in the bar industry?
“I got my start bartending 11 years ago.”
Bartending and bar owning are two very different endeavors, what made you want to start “The Tap”?
“I realized bartending was my niche, and knew I had some great ideas for a bar.”
How did you decide on the name or rather, to be tap-less?
“Well the name is a play on words obviously, but in the beginning we had an all female staff, and didn’t want to deal with lugging around kegs.”
How was downtown’s reception of The Broken Tap when you first opened?
“In all honesty, in the beginning, the city wasn’t thrilled about having another bar downtown. Now we have several new businesses in the service industry and downtown is starting to thrive again!”
What were your biggest issues you had to overcome starting the bar?
“The hardest part was taking the leap on such a huge investment. But we found a building with the perfect location that had so much charm and opportunity. Renovating an old building is always a lot of work but very rewarding.”
Did you expect he Tap to get as popular as it is today?
“I never dreamed that The Broken Tap would be as popular as it is today. Between my staff and our customers, it really is a dream come true.”
What was your opinion on prop G?
“I was a big supporter of prop G. We were sad it didn’t pass but we hope it has opened people’s eyes to other future possibilities!”
Did you find it was harder for you to establish your brand as a woman?
“I wouldn’t say being a woman necessarily made it harder, but it did raise doubt in other peoples opinions on whether or not I would succeed. I still occasionally have people ask me to speak with the owner and they’re shocked when I respond that I am the owner.”
Do you have any advice for other young female entrepreneurs in North Texas?
“Starting your own business is intimidating for anyone I would assume. As a woman, we are equally as capable as men. The only extra factor that i’ve found that adds a little more stress is balancing being a single parent and running a business. This can be equally challenging for men. There’s always a balance to be found with work and family… for anyone. But for any young female entrepreneurs, I would say go for it! You’ll never know if you don’t try.”
What are your future plans for ”The Tap”, what’s next?
“I’d love, in the future, to expand a little bit. But as to how we’ll expand you will just have to stay tuned! One day my son may even want to take
over!”
-Ryan Thomas
