Entrepreneurial University played a vital role for Dreamland managing partner
October 2015
By David Zaslawsky
Photography by Robert Fouts
When Bob Parker attended the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial University, he had been a general manager at Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Birmingham and was one of three business owners of Betsy’s Cheese Straws in Millbrook.
Parker had no formal business training. He was a history major, so he decided he needed to learn about being a business owner. “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful running a business,” Parker said. “A business that doesn’t make money is a hobby, and there’s nothing worse than a very expensive hobby unless you’re rich.”
The 3-week course costs $200, including books and materials. The next Entrepreneurial University will be in 2016 at the Montgomery Chamber Business Resource Center at 600 S. Court St.
He doesn’t remember all the details about attending Entrepreneurial University back in 2000 or 2001, but he did recall some important aspects, including “being around like-minded people. You don’t need to be around people that are either telling you how great you are all the time or people that tell you that you’re an idiot. Being around folks that are struggling with the same things you are is good – it’s encouraging.”
Parker said that he received a lot of good advice on not just how to do something, but why. “I wanted to learn more about opening a business; owning a business; growing a business; all the pitfalls,” he said.
Parker said it was important to hear real-life examples of businesspeople and advice from speakers. He said that at Dreamland he was an employee and that Betsy’s Cheese Straws began as a home-based business. “It wasn’t doing much in sales and wasn’t something that was going to teach me big stuff.” That company, which he owned with his wife and mother, did grow and was sold in 2009 to Chattanooga Bakery Co., which has the MoonPie brand.
In 2009, Parker opened Dreamland, which was the first business at The Alley. He opened on the Montgomery Biscuits’ home opener so that 7,000 or so people would walk by Dreamland on their way to Riverwalk Stadium to see a Double-A baseball game. “We can’t have people walk by and not get in,” Parker said. He called that the best free advertising.
Parker, who also built houses and bought rental property after leaving Dreamland in Birmingham and returning to Montgomery, said he developed important relationships at Entrepreneurial University. He said that he enjoyed being around people “doing what they love to do.” He also remembered people helping him answer questions. “I think early on it helped with my entrepreneurial career.”
That entrepreneurial career also includes opening Railyard Brewing Co. and he is not done yet. Now as managing partner for Dreamland and Railyard, Parker has 85 employees.
He not only graduated from Entrepreneurial University, but for five-plus years he kept his business office at the Chamber’s incubation program at the Business Resource Center. “That’s a great facility,” Parker said. “You can have an office there and have a receptionist.” And it’s offered at a below-market rate.
Men’s club planned for Railyard Brewing Co. Basement
After a successful launch of the Railyard Tavern in the basement of Railyard Brewing Co., managing partner Bob Parker is planning to open a sophisticated men’s club also in the basement.
Parker, who hoped the space would be completed later this year, said there will be a 1940s era pool table, six dart boards and a Bocce Ball court along with chairs and couches. “It’s going to be like a cigar bar with absolutely no smoking,” Parker said. “There is nothing like it here.”
He said that the tavern, which has a bar, tables and chairs, can seat 65 for meetings, private parties and special events and 85 to 100 for cocktails. He added the décor and lighting to that area. – David Zaslawsky
