Bentztown is a Music City-inspired live music bar and restaurant in the heart of downtown Frederick. We just celebrated our one-year anniversary at the end of May, and we’ve been so proud to bring a little bit of Nashville’s spirit to Maryland. In addition to serving up fresh takes on Southern dishes, creative cocktails, and local craft beers, we host live music acts along with other exciting forms of entertainment like karaoke, line dancing, and bluegrass jam sessions every week. Our goal is to be a place where people can gather, enjoy good food and drinks, and connect over a shared love of music and community.
Bentztown is part of Monocacy Hospitality, the restaurant group who is also behind Brewer’s Alley and Monocacy Brewing Co. Our focus is simple: to enrich the lives of our guests through the delivery of thoughtful, inspired hospitality in spaces that bring people together. I like to tell our Team each and every day, “Dare to be Great” (Teddy Roosevelt and Michael Jordan), which essentially means have the courage, tenacity, ambition, and work-ethic to go out and make it a great day. Never settle for mediocrity.
A conversation with Greg Brown, Owner
Tell us your story!
I got my start in the restaurant industry back in 2008 when I took a leap and bought a failing restaurant in St. Louis, where I am originally from. I was 24 and learning everything as I went. It’s kind of a fun story…I bought the restaurant on a Friday, resigned from Anheuser-Busch on Saturday, and we fortunately had a great weekend which enabled us to turn the restaurant around and buy some real estate over a period of time. That experience lit a fire in me for helping businesses reach their potential, especially by building strong teams and improving operations. I eventually returned to the corporate world, working in finance and operations at Nestlé and TreeHouse Foods, while also staying involved in restaurants and real estate on the side.
Life then led me to Erie, PA where I opened 6 restaurants in 14 months and acquired and turned around a commercial foodservice equipment company before moving back to Maryland for family reasons. I wasn’t sure what was next until I met Brewer’s Alley founder Phil Bowers. He was exploring succession options for the brewpub, and I was looking for a new challenge. Coincidentally, my wife Anne and I had one of our early dates at Brewer’s Alley, so it felt serendipitous. That
meeting led to the acquisition of Brewer’s Alley and Monocacy Brewing Co. at the end of 2022, and then the launch of Bentztown in May 2024.
What do you like most about being a business owner in Frederick?
The people. I get the most satisfaction out of building great teams and developing people who want to grow and take on new challenges. There’s something special about creating a culture where we are specifically looking for those that “Dare to be Great”. We reward ambition, excellence, competitive spirit, and the tenacity to be best-in-class in all we do! Outside the walls of our restaurants, I love being part of this community. After years in the corporate world, I really missed that local connection, the ability to have a positive impact on the place where you live, raise your family, and build relationships that matter. Frederick has given my family a lot, and I’m happy to be able to give back in whatever ways I can.
Why did you join the Chamber?
The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce plays a vital role in advocacy. Running a business in Maryland isn’t always easy, and having a Chamber that actively represents the interests of business owners – at the local, county, and state levels – is critical. I joined because I believe in the importance of that work. The Chamber does a great job promoting pro-business policies and providing a voice for those of us who’ve made the choice to take on the risk and responsibility of business ownership. I have a very direct view – Cities, Counties, and the State do not have anything without competitive small business policies.
How has being a member of the Chamber benefited Bentztown?
You get more by giving more. That’s been true in every part of my life, and it applies here too. Being part of the Chamber has allowed me to build meaningful relationships and work alongside other business owners who want to see Frederick thrive. Whether it’s through legislative advocacy or just connecting with other members, being involved has had a positive effect not just for the businesses I have the privilege to lead, but for the broader business community too.
What do you want Bentztown to be known for?
Always doing the right thing – for our team, our guests, and our community. That’s it. If we can be consistent in that, the rest tends to fall into place.
Share some of your community involvement efforts!
Community involvement is a big part of who we are and who I try to be, personally and professionally. I’m a member of the Carroll Creek Rotary and serve on the Board of Directors for the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, where I also chair the Public Policy Committee. I’m also on the Board of the Restaurant Association of Maryland and sit on their government affairs committee, in addition to being part of the Brewer’s Association of Maryland and the national Brewer’s Association.
At Brewer’s Alley, we support a different local nonprofit every month by donating 20% of proceeds from one day of sales. And while Bentztown is still new, we’ll be building out similar efforts as we grow. At the end of the day, we want to support positive change in our community. I’m always open to discussing fundraising opportunities for organizations that align with our values and deliver value to others.
Do you have any exciting promotions or interesting events coming up?
Bentztown has a packed calendar these days. We’re now open 7 days a week and have karaoke every Tuesday night from 7–11 p.m. called “Bentztown Live.” DJ Baspy of Benefactor Events will emcee the night and guests can belt out their favorite songs from our stage while having a little friendly competition for prizes. Then we’ve got line dancing on Wednesdays and a fantastic bluegrass jam session every Thursday – plus we’re always adding themed parties, drink specials, and fun surprises to the calendar.
Over at Brewer’s Alley, we’ve got our nightlife series, Alley Nights, and an anniversary party coming up on Wednesday, July 30th (Yes… Brewer’s Alley turns 29 this July). We’ll also be announcing a few sponsored beer dinners soon. And of course, Brewer’s is the best place to catch the High Wheel Race when it rolls through town in July.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.