While Mr. Daniel Frankel may not have started out with a plan in the restaurant business in 2001, he certainly didn’t stay without direction for long. A self-described “failed filmmaker,” Mr. Frankel found tremendous success flexing his creative muscle and entrepreneurial spirit creating and executing concepts: Mill Marine Bistro & Bar, Pirate Pub, Prospect Point, Stanley Park Pavilion and Stanley Park Grill, and perhaps most prominently, Tap & Barrel.
Mr. Frankel’s latest project, BREWHALL, which opened in the 11,500-square-foot Opsal Steel Building this past August, has him brimming with excitement. “We are a craft brewery and community beerhall, and as simple and awesome as that is, it’s actually never been done like this before,” he explains. “We’re a space for exploration and inspiration, focusing on small batch craft collaboration with brewery partners and other local producers. Loitering is encouraged and everyone is welcome.” With arcade games, ping pong, corn hole, Jenga, and a myriad of board games, it’s easy to do so. The mezzanine houses Drinklab: beverage innovation centre by day and open to the public in the evenings with an elevated cocktail program – many available on tap – and a whiskey bar.
Tap & Barrel is the province’s largest licensee for purchasing craft beer, so it’s no surprise to see a continued emphasis on local at BREWHALL. “Instead of competing head-to-head with our brewing partners, we decided to focus on collaborating with them, but in our brewery,” Mr. Frankel explains. “We can free up their tanks and truly push brewing innovation to new heights. Our Brew Master, Kerry Dyson, is a magician and we are so blessed to have him. I’m learning so much now that we are not only in hospitality, but also in manufacturing.” In eight short weeks, the BREWHALL team brewed 24 collaborations with local favourites like Powell Street, Strange Fellows, Twin Sails, and Yellow Dog. The only problem? They are blowing through beer four times faster than anticipated.
What’s kept Mr. Frankel striding forward is a list of current focuses and the drive to improve. “Good is the enemy of great! Operational efficiencies and executional excellence are never going out of style for me,” he says. “Part of what we obsess about is always upgrading our operating system. This is ongoing, and whenever we achieve an update, the carrot only gets pushed further ahead. My frustration with inefficiencies is simply a constant reminder that we are driven to continually improve. Small improvements compound and over time they make a profound impact.”
Mr. Frankel has a team of up to 1,200 staff in the spring and summer when patio season is in full swing. “We are lucky to have a strong collaborative culture and that’s a bit part of our retention,” he says. “We have worked tirelessly on developing a coaching culture, and we invest heavily in our people, their education, and in empowering our leadership team to take ownership. Our leaders are encouraged to be entrepreneurial and embrace the fact that sometimes this leads to making mistakes; our belief is that failure is the tuition fee you pay for your education. When they win or fail, they share best practices which feeds into a network effect so that we can learn and grow together, while remaining agile. This is something we’ve been working on for some time; it’s far from perfect but the commitment is there and we are getting closer to galvanizing this into our culture, which will perpetually reside in a state of flux.”
Mr. Frankel joined Terminal City Club in 1998 because he was living in the tower. “It was so convenient, and I fell in love with the Club and the members,” he says. “Some of my closest friends I met through TCC. It’s become a big part of my life. Much like what I tried to achieve with BREWHALL, the Club is that space for me, and I feel like it’s my home away from home. I love the gym and all the regulars I see there, I use the Grill for weekly breakfast meetings, and I host many of my YPO forum meetings at the Club along with some of our other chapter events. Occasionally, I escape my office and use the Business Centre as a quiet refuge. I also enjoy Cuvée and 1892, so I get a fair bit of use from the Club. My father and stepmom live in the building so we often use the Club as an extension of their dining room. My dad enjoys hanging out in the Members Lounge so I occasionally meet him after work for a game of pool.”
Even though he is now a mentor and an inspiration to many, Mr. Frankel is still quick to acknowledge the wisdom that he’s received from his own mentors. “I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them,” he says. He has a few sound bites that he plays back every day to keep him on track, like “business is all about how you make people feel” and “if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Safe to say, it’s tried and true! ■
