A New Albany sports bar is beefing up its game under a new business partnership that includes a recent Super Bowl champion and three other good friends planning to reopen the renovated Main Street location August 28 under the name Brownie’s The Shed Grille and Bar.
The new ownership team running the former JR’s Pub and Fieldhaus includes Brownie’s founder Keith Brown and his son Jason, New York Jets’ lineman Breno Giacomini, who became best friends with Jason they attended the University of Louisville, and John Neace, of Neace Ventures.
Originally, Keith Brown built a large shed in their backyard, where they would have weekly gatherings called “shed parties” that sometimes grew to more than 100 people.
“Dad always loved (the 1980s TV show) ‘Cheers,’ and wanted to start his own bar where everyone knows your name,” Jason Brown said.
Four years ago, he joined his father at the original location at 237 Whittington Parkway, which opened a decade ago off Hurstbourne Parkway in Louisville.
In November 2014, they opened a second location at Bardstown Road and Bonnycastle Ave. in the Highlands, and now they’re thinking about more expansion.
“With the new ownership, we now have the opportunity to grow not only in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area, but in other surrounding cities,” Jason Brown said.
Brown said Neace, a New Albany resident, has been like a second father to him.
“John has been a mentor of mine since I was 16 years old and we have talked weekly for the last 10 years of my life,” he said. “John and I have always wanted to get into business together and with the knowledge I have of restaurants, we thought Brownie’s would be the perfect fit.”
Their immediate focus is overhauling Fieldhaus, which opened in February. It will close for about two weeks as they convert the space. Since recently announcing the change on social media, Jason Brown said “everybody has been extremely welcoming” to the idea.
Brownie’s has built its reputation on quality food, a beer selection that includes more than a dozen draft brews at each location, and creating a festive atmosphere through hiring friendly staff members who spark up conversations with customers amid college and professional sporting events.
“We aim to be the premier local sports bar,” he said.
The Brownie’s menu has received rave local media reviews for its American fare with a bit of German flair, such as its Double Bratzel, a giant soft pretzel stuffed with two bratwursts, sauerkraut, onion and green peppers.
It also makes its beer cheese with Falls City Beer, serving it with pretzel bites as an appetizer or atop charbroiled burgers. It serves chicken wings with an array of sauces from sweet to “insane”-ly spicy, fish and other sandwiches, salads, quesadillas and other appetizers.
The New Albany location will have 18 beer taps with drink specials each weeknight, including one night a week where brats and select domestic drafts are $1.50 each.
Brown said they also hope to start an outdoor volleyball league there soon to encourage more sports enthusiasts to get actively involved.
As for sports on its high-definition TVs, it will show games from NFL Sunday Ticket, ESPN College Gameplan, MLB Package, and the Big 10 and Fox Sports Channels, among others.
The 300-plus pound Giacomini, an eight-year NFL veteran right tackle who won a title protecting the Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson in 2013-14, won’t be able to attend the late August grand opening because he’s training for the upcoming NFL season, Brown said.
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Brownie’s Fire Grilled Flat Bread Pizzas
Three different pizzas to choose from – We’ve dished up some of our favorite menu items to create our special flat bread pizzas you can’t get anywhere else.
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Brownie’s Full Menu
We are open for lunch and dinner, and serve a wonderful range of appetizers, sandwiches and full dinner items – everything from Nachos, Pretzel Nuggets, and BBQ Skins to Sandwiches, Wings and Burgers, to Fish Sandwiches and Salads…plus a LOT in between!
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Brownie’s Lunch Specials
Stop paying ridiculous prices for lunch! Visit us for great food and great prices – Starting at $6.99 for a full hot lunch with two sides. It’s hot, made fresh, and better than a burger in a box!
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The best American cuisine and German food from Brownie’s The Shed Grille & Bar, Your Closest Home To Home!
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