
Restaurant and Bar Broker
Arizona Restaurant Sales
With more than 40 years experience as both a restaurateur and restaurant and bar broker, Brian Harron has been privileged to sell many restaurant and bar businesses and has owned and operated a few as well! He has been exclusively involved in the buying, selling, and leasing of restaurants and bars since 1980.
How did you get into the business brokerage industry?
I was doing some consulting in the restaurant business in the early 1980’s and my next door neighbor had a small RE firm. We talked and I got an RE license. Have had a RE license continuously since then but took a 10 year hiatus in the 90’s to develop and operate restaurants in Native American Casinos. Worked with Ruly Couch for a few years and learned a lot from him.
What is your favorite thing about the industry?
Favorite thing is specialization in restaurants and bars and the people I meet and the things we have in common. I confess I also like the money that one can make. Restaurants and bars are natural for me since I have a degree from Cornell School of Hotel Administration with a specialization in food and beverage. Also, my wife is an award winning author of cookbooks and was a high end caterer in the San Francisco area.
What is the best or most interesting deal you have worked on?
Best and most interesting deal was a deal that Tim Whipple and I worked on. Side note is that Tim and I have been business partners for about 20 years. The deal was in Prescott and was an Italian Restaurant listed for $3.2 million. Took a long time to find the right buyer and then he got a San Francisco hot shot lawyer so the buyer got a lawyer and 9 months later we had a deal close. Tim and I took out the sellers after COE and had lunch and several bottles of Dom Perignon.
What is the key to being a successful broker?
Education! Once you stop learning you stop earning. That is why I have been so active in AZBBA as President and Vice President and Education Chairman a few times. Networking and co-brokering has been good too. I still try to get an online workshop on a weekly basis. AZBBA has also been a good education provider.
What do you do on your day(s) off?
I generally do not take days off. I take hours off. But when I do I get out of town for a few days.