Success Story:JL Beers

JL Beers – Minot 2017

The Minot Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announces its regional 2017 Small Business of the Year award to JL Beers Minot.  The award is given in recognition of outstanding small business leaders who help their communities create jobs, drive innovation, and spur the economy.

ZZ Food Group opened JL Beers in March 2015 in Minot.  The franchise is part of the JL Beers (ND based) franchise, which currently has twelve locations in three states.   JL Beers offers an extensive line of craft beers, burgers, and homemade chips/ fries.

This eclectic restaurant has a modern, unique vibe, which they boast has seating for 1000, 47 seats at a time!  The décor is engaging, and the small space and open kitchen concept lend themselves to a unique customer experience.  JL Beers relies heavily on social marketing, which includes an interactive app, seasonal brew promotions, and store gear that helps to reinforce branding and customer interaction.

The key to JL Beer’s success is its simplistic approach.  They start with a small menu using fresh ingredients and state-of-the-art equipment that cooks a burger in under three minutes.  Chips or fries are cut and cooked to order while you watch.  The result is quality food delivered quickly and reasonably priced.  Well-trained staff are hands-on and involved in the customer beverage selections, making their service second to none.

Jesse and Wayne Zwak, father and son owners of ZZ Food Group, have also owned the Minot Perkins since 1983.

Zwak’ enlisted the Minot SBDC services when they began their pre-construction and financial planning stages of the project.  Working with Mary Beth Votava, the SBDC helped to create and organize their business plan and financial forecasts.  She also helped bridge communication and manage the paperwork that went back and forth between the funding partners and them.

Funding was approved by a local bank, SBA, and Dakota Certified Development Corp. Overall, Zwak feels the SBDC services helped to enhance communications and to alleviate some of the stress involved with such a large project.  The budget provided a breakeven analysis that ensured debt service could be met and that the project was fiscally feasible.   The plans provided the building blocks for the financial underwriters to review and analyze the information in the same light.

The ND SBDC is a federally, state, and locally funded program housed by the University of ND. Ten service centers across the state provide business services and consulting free of charge to any existing or prospective business owner. The Minot SBDC region serves Bottineau, Burke, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward counties.  The regional office is located in Minot and can be reached at 701.857.8211.