Another Main Street restaurant closes

Just months after Main Street eatery Ristorante Deneno shut its doors for the final time, another Main Street restaurant has been forced to follow suit.

Beef O’ Brady’s, which opened in March 2008, has closed after financial difficulties made its continued operation unsustainable.

Owner Dan McCann, who also owns the Beef O’ Brady’s on Archer Road in Gainesville, said although the restaurant had many regular customers, the net gain simply did not add up enough to keep it running.

“We had some good moments when we were packed, but those moments weren’t enough to sustain us throughout the rest of the weeks and months,” he said. “I still had to pay the bills, and I still had to pay my employees.”

McCann said although the Alachua restaurant is closing down, he is trying to help his employees as much as possible, especially the ones with the most need.

“I’m moving several of my employees, including my manager, over to the Gainesville store, based on need,” he said.

Although McCann faced tough business times while the restaurant was open, he still managed to donate time, money and food to the community throughout his nearly two years of operations.

McCann was active in the community, even before the restaurant opened, earning Beef O’ Brady’s the title of “Business of the Year” by the Alachua Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

During the awards ceremony, Alachua Elementary Principal Jim Brandenburg lauded the restaurateur for his involvement in the community.

“Before Danny ever opened his doors in Alachua, he came to the school and met with me and said, ‘I want to help your school,” Brandenburg said. “He then gave us a few gift certificates and he’s been involved ever since.”

Alachua recreation director Hal Brady said McCann will be sorely missed in Alachua because he has been an exceptional supporter of community residents and programs.

“It’s really sad that he’s closing down,” Brady said. “He’s been one of our great local partners, not only in sports, but also in the schools.”

Although the restaurant is closed for now, McCann is not ruling out the possibility of reopening in Alachua in the future.

“I’m already talking to corporate about the future,” he said. “Alachua still has great potential, especially when the Walmart opens up in a few years. Either way, we’ve made some great friends here, and I hope we can stay in touch and see what happens in the future.”