From CFCC Student to Restaurant Owner at 20
Brady O’Brien stands in front of the future home of Brady’s Burgers
Choosing CFCC and figuring it out along the way
After graduating from Laney High School and taking dual enrollment classes, Brady knew he wanted to continue his education close to home.
“I didn’t even apply to any other colleges,” he said. “I knew I was going to Cape Fear.”
What he didn’t know at the time was what direction his career would take. Like many students, Brady entered college without a clear long-term plan.
That uncertainty started to shift as an idea began to form. About a year and a half ago, Brady began sketching out what would eventually become Brady’s Burgers. The concept went through a few versions before landing on the final vision.
The idea was a simple, focused menu built around smash burgers. A fast-casual model where customers can choose their toppings as they move down the line, similar to the style of Chipotle, but centered on burgers.
“I grew up loving burgers,” Brady said. “I like the quick but quality food. I just want it to be simple and really good.”
Learning the business side from the ground up
As the idea grew, so did the circle of people supporting it, offering both encouragement and financial backing to get the project moving. “People believed in me and were willing to invest in my business,” he said.
At 19, Brady found himself sitting in meetings with experienced business owners and investors, wondering if he belonged there. But little by little, the nerves faded, and his confidence grew.
“I watched videos, listened to podcasts, talked to anyone I could, old bosses, friends, even people not in the food industry,” he said. “I love advice. I love knowledge and learning. And I feel way more confident about the industry.”
While the concept was taking shape, Brady was also balancing school and work. He has worked at Jersey Mike’s for more than five years and still works there today. He credits working there with teaching him a lot about operations and customer service.
An important step in Brady’s journey came when he connected with Jerry Coleman at CFCC’s Small Business Center.
“I emailed Jerry and met with him at the downtown campus,” Brady said. “He was awesome. He sent me a bunch of helpful resources and just talked me through the process.”
Trial, error, and adjusting along the way
Like many first-time entrepreneurs, Brady says the process has included a fair share of trial and error. The space he’s building out was originally just a shell, and much of the work has been about learning as he goes.
“The most challenging part is realizing I’m going to fail a lot,” he said. “I would go to meetings, and sometimes walk out thinking, I did not do well in that. But you adjust, switch this, change that, and keep going. I really like that part.”
Building more than just a burger spot
At the center of it all is a focus on community, something Brady says has always influenced how he thinks about business.
“When I think of what I want this place to be, my dad comes to my mind,” he shared. “He loves talking. Everywhere we go, he has to talk to someone.”
“When people come into the restaurant, I want to know them by first name. The food matters, but so does the experience.”
As opening day approaches, Brady says he’s grateful for the people who have supported him along the way.
“The support is why I feel like I can do this,” he said. “My parents, the people who invested in me, my friends, all the people around me, everyone has been incredible.”
Small Business Center
The Small Business Center at CFCC provides free and confidential counseling to people who are exploring the opportunity to open their own business. We also provide counseling and advice to existing small businesses at their request.
In addition, we offer annually 80+ free seminars on many varied business topics targeted towards potential or existing entrepreneurs.
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