When Russell Brent opened Battle Ground’s Mill Creek Pub in November 2011, he did so with a vision of creating “a restaurant and pub that people feel a sense of community in.” Apparently he has been successful, because the pub has been experiencing a 10 to 15 percent increase in net sales each month, compared to the same month a year ago.
“We’re bucking a trend,” said Brent, adding that the national average monthly revenue for the food industry was down about 1 percent for each of the last three months.
The pub, which features a rustic ambience inspired by local industries such as logging and ranching, won the 2012 Vancouver Tourism Award for a program spearheaded by Brent called “Passport to Battle Ground,” which uses local lodging taxes to promote local tourism. Brent was also recently awarded “2013 Business Person and Best Business of the Year” by the Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce.
Brent said that he has added four FTEs in the last two months, and plans on expanding his catering services at local event centers, such as Summit Grove in LaCenter and Moulton Falls Winery in Yacolt.
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