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Barrett Brothers Serve Up Restaurant Success At Lake Of The Ozarks

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Dog Days At Lake Of The Ozarks

An entrepreneurial spirit has inspired the Barrett Brothers--Mark and Brian--for 23 years, and in those 23 years, they have quadrupled the restaurants and bars they own and operate. Dog Days, now 23 years old and still growing, was only the first of what is now four restaurants. Dog Days is home to two iconic and wildly popular entertainment events: Canine Cannonball and Aquapalooza.

photo by Al Griffin

 Al Griffin

An entrepreneurial spirit has inspired the Barrett Brothers--Mark and Brian--for 23 years, and in those 23 years, they have quadrupled the restaurants and bars they own and operate. In early 2016, they accepted an award from the Missouri Restaurant Association as Restaurateurs of the Year 2015. It is just one recent award of many over the years for entrepreneurship, quality food, great customer service, and first-rate entertainment venues.

The Barretts are from Iowa, but Lake of the Ozarks was the family’s annual vacation home since the boys were babies. Everyone in the family loves it here. Mark even signed on for an internship at Tan-Tar-A in the summer of 1992 between his junior and senior years at Iowa State where he studied Hotel and Restaurant Management. 

During that summer, he learned about a business being foreclosed upon and decided the time to begin the career he dreamed about was at hand. In June 1993, he became the owner and on-site operator for Dog Days, located at 1232 Jeffries Road, Osage Beach on the 19 MM. Brother Brian left the corporate world to join Mark in the restaurant business at Lake of the Ozarks. Their parents followed Mark and Brian to make the Lake their full-time home in 1999.

In those early days, Mark cooked, washed dishes, carried trash, waited tables, and tended bar. He filled in wherever there was a need. He still does. Both brothers believe in working hard to build success, and they model that work ethic for their employees.

Hiring and retaining good people is one reason for the Barretts’ success. They believe that a server is not just someone who brings food to the table.  A server or a bartender is in sales. He and she need to know what foods best serve the customers’ tastes, what beverages complement foods, and what upcoming events or specials to preview in order to whet the customer’s appetite for subsequent visits.

Mark Barrett said grooming servers and bartenders in retail skills affects their futures in college or on the job for the better. Furthermore, treating employees to a professional work place makes them valuable employees when they return the next season or as they transition from bussing tables to management roles 

Dog Days, now 23 years old and still growing, was only the first of what is now four restaurants. One reason for adding other restaurants is for the employees. They need opportunities to grow with the business so the business must keep expanding. The other reason is the Barrett entrepreneurial spirit. The brothers are not afraid to take risks, and in 2002, they did just that. They added Wobbly Boots Roadhouse after buying the old J-Bar-J Restaurant.

Wobbly Boots At Lake Of The Ozarks

An entrepreneurial spirit has inspired the Barrett Brothers--Mark and Brian--for 23 years, and in those 23 years, they have quadrupled the restaurants and bars they own and operate. Wobbly Boots began in a small building on the west side of Osage Beach Parkway but soon needed more space. The restaurant moved east on the Parkway where it continued to thrive. Now in its third home at 4717 Osage Beach Parkway, smoked meats and barbecue are the heart of the restaurant. The décor is Western-themed with a nod to sports.

photo by Al Griffin

Wobbly Boots began in a small building on the west side of Osage Beach Parkway but soon needed more space. The restaurant moved east on the Parkway where it continued to thrive. Now in its third home at 4717 Osage Beach Parkway, smoked meats and barbecue are the heart of the restaurant. The décor is Western-themed with a nod to sports. On a recent day in mid-June, the restaurant’s sign welcomed both Cardinals’ and Royals’ fans, reassuring them that their fan tastes were as welcome as their tastes for barbecue. 

Wobbly Boots At Lake Of The Ozarks

An entrepreneurial spirit has inspired the Barrett Brothers--Mark and Brian--for 23 years, and in those 23 years, they have quadrupled the restaurants and bars they own and operate. Wobbly Boots began in a small building on the west side of Osage Beach Parkway but soon needed more space. The restaurant moved east on the Parkway where it continued to thrive. Now in its third home at 4717 Osage Beach Parkway, smoked meats and barbecue are the heart of the restaurant. The décor is Western-themed with a nod to sports.

photo by Al Griffin

 

Another Wobbly Boots stands near Des Moines, Iowa. It opened in November 2015 after Mark’s friend and former employers, J. R. and Heather Sheffer, contacted Mark Barrett about opening a restaurant together. Sheffer found he didn’t care for retirement as much as he thought he would. He wanted to be back in business, and the Barrett brothers obliged him.

Shorty Pants At Lake Of The Ozarks

An entrepreneurial spirit has inspired the Barrett Brothers--Mark and Brian--for 23 years, and in those 23 years, they have quadrupled the restaurants and bars they own and operate. Located at 1680 Autumn Lane, Osage Beach on the 21 Mile Marker, Shorty Pants offers Cajun flavors.

photo by Al Griffin

Another friend suggested a marina as a business opportunity, but the Barretts decided a full-service marina and another restaurant were a better investment. That decision became Shorty Pants Lounge in 2005. Located at 1680 Autumn Lane, Osage Beach on the 21 Mile Marker, Shorty Pants offers Cajun flavors whereas the original Barrett restaurant, Dog Days, provides surf and turf waterfront food. Each one of the four restaurants garners awards, each having been recognized for food, service, and atmosphere.

The Barretts don’t rest on their awards, however. They believe it essential to continually evolve the menus and upgrade the facilities in order to remain vital, current, and relevant.

Similarly, the Barretts believe in being active in the Lake of the Ozarks’ community. A sign in front of Wobbly Boots reports the restaurant supports Kids’ Harbor, an organization that works in behalf of abused and neglected children at no cost to families in need. An annual golf tournament, Bogeys and Beer, assists not only Kids’ Harbor, but also the Tri-County YMCA, Kiwanis, and CADV (Citizens Against Domestic Violence). 

Barrett restaurants also partner with Midwest Boat Party for a Support the Troops Poker Run, and the brothers sponsor Lake of the Ozarks Bike Fest, scheduled for September 15-18, 2016. Mark serves on the board for Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) as well.

Dog Days is home to two iconic and wildly popular entertainment events. Canine Cannonball made its eighth annual appearance in June 2016, and Aquapalooza—the Lake’s biggest on-water concert—was held there July 16, 2016. Aquapalooza brings together families for an on-the-water party at Dog Days in partnership with KLOZ--Mix 92.7 and Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association.

Mark and Brian Barrett are active volunteers in their community and hands-on owners. They are hard-working, busy men, often on the move between Wobbly Boots, Dog Days, and Shorty Pants. Is it any wonder that awards have come their way?

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