Elbedeiwy said she never thought the restaurant would close, but she was more concerned about taking care of her employees.
More than a year later, business has not only picked up, but the restaurant is experiencing record sales.
“What’s cool is every day we have new people that come in,” Elbedeiwy said. “That’s what we want. People are like, ‘Oh, my gosh! I drove by and didn’t know what this was.’”
Guitars & Growlers opened its first location in Richardson in 2017. Both locations serve local craft beer, ciders and root beer on tap, in addition to a full menu with items named after well-known musicians. Popular dishes include Cash’s Smoked Wings, named for Johnny Cash, and the SRV Meat Lovers hoagie, abbreviated after Dallas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
But the restaurant specializes in more than just beer and eats. Customers can purchase custom guitars made by co-owner Rob Baker.
Elbedeiwy said the McKinney community rallied around the restaurant and made sure it stayed open throughout the pandemic, and support increased from there.
Some of that community has grown organically from the camaraderie created by nightly entertainment at the restaurant, such as Pint Night and trivia on Mondays, open mic nights on Tuesdays, music bingo on Wednesdays, and live music Thursday through Sunday.
“We’re a family-friendly restaurant,” Elbedeiwy said. “We’re centered around the community and supporting local performers.”
The bar rotates 43 taps regularly, which range from porters, stouts and sours to lagers and IPAs. The rotation provides exposure to new beers local breweries want to promote, Elbedeiwy said. It also gives customers the opportunity to try different drinks, she said.
Beer lovers can use an app, Untappd, to receive updates when Guitars & Growlers replaces a tap. They can also check in on the app and rate beers. Reviews automatically populate on large screens above the bar.
Elbedeiwy said she and her business partners plan to expand the business. They have looked at the Bishop Arts District in Dallas, Denton and Austin.
“We have a great concept and a great culture,” she said. “The big piece is finding the right community that fits.”
Guitars & Growlers
2741 Virginia Parkway, Ste. 500
469-714-0229
www.guitarsandgrowlers.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight, Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
