EVANSTON — Travis Martinez knew nothing about brewing beer, preparing food or running a restaurant when the idea to open Suds Bros. restaurant and brewery was hatched with his brother Steve more than a decade ago. What he did have was experience with creating a successful business plan to create a solid foundation that could be built upon and a desire to add something to the Evanston community he has always loved. 

Now that more than 10 years have passed since Suds Bros. opened in July 2007, the business has become a vital part of downtown Evanston. Located in the historic JC Penney building, Suds Bros.’ mix of food, drink, music and fun has overcome the obstacles facing any new business to solidify its spot in the community, known affectionately by many in Evanston as simply “Suds.” 

Travis, who grew up in Evanston, said he thinks part of Suds’ appeal is the culture of the place, where employees work hard but have fun doing it. Long-time residents may fondly remember Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, once located on Front Street, and Travis said some of his inspiration came from there. “We have created and maintained a culture of development in our people, personally and professionally, and have a blast — like we did at Shakey’s in 1989.” 

He continued, “We have a philosophy of developing motivated employees that want to embrace the culture, and we give them opportunities to make suggestions and share ideas for improvements.” 

The rock and roll themed décor also adds to the attraction. Visitors to Suds will undoubtedly be met by classic rock music, which can be enjoyed along with a meal and a brew, if so desired. The extensive collection of musical memorabilia is stuff Travis and Steve collected over a lifetime spent as die-hard music fans. 

The upstairs tables, each focused on a different musical group, were painstakingly created by the brothers using cut-outs from music magazines. Travis said, “We really wanted our own personal rock ‘n’ roll hall of fame look, while we were the judges of what went up.” The rock and roll décor now also includes original paintings done by Evanston artist Delana Albrecht. 

Travis said the success of the business has been rewarding for many reasons, but especially the people he’s been able to meet. “It’s really awesome to see the same faces in here repeatedly over the years and to have people who move away say they wish we could open up in other locations.” 

In fact, Suds does have a second location in Fruita, Colorado, operated by Travis’s dad and his wife, Fred and Terri Martinez. The Fruita location, which opened in 2012, took the same successful business plan and built upon it. 

Besides local customers, Travis said Suds has become a destination location for people on brewery tours. Visitors to Evanston are fascinated by the history of the place and charmed by the friendliness of the people, and Travis said his employees are part of that charm. 

The employees have shown a lot of dedication and hard work over the years, he said, so much so that often times they return to work again even for short intervals. “It’s fun to have local kids come back from college over the summer break and pick up shifts, even my own kids,” he said. “Sometimes previous employees even need some extra spending cash over the holidays and they know they can call and we can work them in for a few shifts, that they always have a place, just in case.” 

He particularly emphasized the role of new manager and recent newlywed Sam Howard King. “She’s a great manager who is making a big difference.” Perhaps two of the most important reasons behind the success of Suds Bros. are Al and Eddie Gerrard, the two chefs who have been cooking up the restaurant’s fare since the beginning. When asked why they had stayed working at Suds for so long, Al simply said he loves to cook and Eddie said he loves the atmosphere of the place. 

Suds Bros.’ role in the Evanston community has expanded beyond the restaurant and brewery, to include involvement in launching and cultivating the annual Evanston BrewFest and participating in other events like the Bluegrass Festival and having a booth at the Celtic Festival. Travis said showcasing some high-profile bands for after-hours Celtic Festival and BrewFest concerts has provided locals with a kind-of “backstage pass” to enjoy. 

In his familiar easygoing manner, when asked about changes in the past ten years, Travis responded, “I am married, and Tom Petty died.” What’s readily apparent when speaking with him is what has not changed is his love for his business, staff and especially his community and the people of Evanston. 

As for the future of Suds Bros., Travis said they revisit the menu every couple of years in efforts to keep things fresh and he plans to continue to bring in bands for live music. Otherwise, his mentality is to keep doing what has been so successful thus far. “We don’t need to fix things that aren’t broken. The goal is to not change what’s great, but always keep improving.”