Brickhouse Restaurant owner Rashad “Richie” El-Sharnouby is a man with a plan. He opened at 90 Pershing Drive in December 2008, determined to stick with it for five years.
“I’m making a long-term investment. Business that have only a year plan are in and out,” he said.
He poured lots of money into the restaurant to make the cavernous interior friendly, warm and pristine. He targets a specific demographic — Valley couples and families who want to enjoy an evening out but are older than the local bar crowd.
He offers tons of live entertainment, a huge menu, and soon, stand-up comedy.
But with a recession — and a location next to a commercial sector that has obviously seen better days — El-Sharnouby says it’s getting tougher to stick with his plan.
A possible solution — do more.
In the midst of a recession, Sharnouby has an application pending to add outdoor dining to the Brickhouse. He wants to add about 30 seats spread out two patios, re-arrange some parking and add more landscaping to screen his property from the empty commercial buildings next door.
“I want to make this an oasis. I did it on the inside, now it’s time to do it on the outside,” El-Sharnouby said.
He appeared in front of the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission Sept. 21 to ask for permission.
Commission members had some issues with the seating arrangement. They worried the placement of the patios would force patrons to walk into a driving lane when trying to get inside the Brickhouse. They also wanted Sharnouby to move some areas of fencing shown on his plans.
Planning and Zoning Commission meetings can sometimes be adversarial, with the applicant’s lawyer doing the talking.
It wasn’t the case with Sharnouby. He spoke for himself and appreciated the commission’s guidance.
“Excellent idea,” he said of their suggestions. “It shouldn’t be a problem.”
The addition of seating is a double-edged sword for the Brickhouse. Adding seats means you have to add parking. Sharnouby’s plan showed him two parking spaces less than the 96 spaces required in the city’s regulations.
The commission presented several options — but strongly suggested he take out three seats. It would be the quickest way to get done what he wants to get done.
Sharnouby thought about it for a moment. He opted to trim some seats.
Sharnouby summarized his motivation for the outdoor dining.
“Last summer I took a beating. This summer I took a beating. Another summer like that I will not be able to survive in that location another year.”
Sharnouby will make the revisions to his plan and go over them again with the commission in October. The commission will most likely vote on his application at that time.
