Brian McMenamin
Encyclopedia
Brian McMenamin is an American
businessperson
and philanthropist
in the state of Oregon
. A native of the state, he and his older brother Mike McMenamin founded the McMenamins
restaurant and brewpub chain in 1983. He serves as general manager and vice-president of the company which operates more than 50 locations that include music venues such as the Crystal Ballroom
, movie theaters such as the Bagdad Theatre, historic buildings converted to brewpubs like the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse
, and several hotel
s.
, in 1957 to Robert W. and Pat McMenamin. He was raised in Northeast Portland where he attended Madeleine Grade School. McMenamin attended Jesuit High School
, a private, Catholic school
in Beaverton
. He then went to Oregon State University
in Corvallis
where he studied pre-law, as his father was an attorney
. McMenamin graduated from the school in 1980 with a degree in political science. His older brother Mike was involved in several ventures involving taverns and pubs in the 1970s. Brian worked for his brother at the Produce Row tavern in Southeast Portland, before the two partnered to start McMenamins Pub in Hillsboro
in 1980 with financial assistance from their father. That pub was not part of the current company and they sold it in 1993.
to change Oregon's law that prohibited those making alcohol from selling it on the premises, allowing for the establishment of brewpubs. By 1991 the company had grown to 25 locations and $10 million in annual sales. Brian serves as the vice-president and general manager of the company, which is the fourth-largest chain of brewpubs in the United States. He owns 30% of the brothers' share of the privately held company that grosses over $70 million annually. The brothers own 75% of the company. Brian is considered the "numbers guy" of the company known for restoring historic properties.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessperson
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
and philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of the state, he and his older brother Mike McMenamin founded the McMenamins
McMenamins
McMenamins is a chain of nearly sixty brewpubs, microbreweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs. The chain is located mostly in the Portland metropolitan area, but has many other locations in Oregon and Washington...
restaurant and brewpub chain in 1983. He serves as general manager and vice-president of the company which operates more than 50 locations that include music venues such as the Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom (Portland, Oregon)
Crystal Ballroom, originally built as Cotillion Hall, is a historic building in Portland, Oregon, United States. Cotillion Hall was built in 1914 as a ballroom, and dance revivals were held there through the Great Depression...
, movie theaters such as the Bagdad Theatre, historic buildings converted to brewpubs like the Cornelius Pass Roadhouse
Imbrie Farm
Imbrie Farm is an Italian Villa style home in Hillsboro, Oregon. It was built by Robert Imbrie and was a working farm for over a century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977....
, and several hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s.
Early life
Brian McMenamin was born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, in 1957 to Robert W. and Pat McMenamin. He was raised in Northeast Portland where he attended Madeleine Grade School. McMenamin attended Jesuit High School
Jesuit High School (Portland, Oregon)
Jesuit High School is a private Catholic high school in Beaverton, Oregon, United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1956, and uses the Jesuit curriculum. Located in the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, it is a college-preparatory school and accepts students of all faiths...
, a private, Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
in Beaverton
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
. He then went to Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
where he studied pre-law, as his father was an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. McMenamin graduated from the school in 1980 with a degree in political science. His older brother Mike was involved in several ventures involving taverns and pubs in the 1970s. Brian worked for his brother at the Produce Row tavern in Southeast Portland, before the two partnered to start McMenamins Pub in Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
in 1980 with financial assistance from their father. That pub was not part of the current company and they sold it in 1993.
McMenamins
Mike McMenamin purchased the Fat Little Rooster bar in Southeast Portland in 1983, starting the company. He renamed it as the Barley Mill Pub and Brian soon joined the company. The next year the brothers and several others lobbied the state legislatureOregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
to change Oregon's law that prohibited those making alcohol from selling it on the premises, allowing for the establishment of brewpubs. By 1991 the company had grown to 25 locations and $10 million in annual sales. Brian serves as the vice-president and general manager of the company, which is the fourth-largest chain of brewpubs in the United States. He owns 30% of the brothers' share of the privately held company that grosses over $70 million annually. The brothers own 75% of the company. Brian is considered the "numbers guy" of the company known for restoring historic properties.
External links
- Past and repast mix it up for McMenamins - The Portland Tribune
- The Brews Brothers - Via magazine
- The Brews Brothers - Oregon Stater
- Craft Brewing Defines Oregon as U.S. "Beer Capital" - National Geographic