Growing up in Pasadena, California, Tim Frederic still remembers the day his father, Fred, and mother, Heidi, broke the Florida relocation news to him and his younger sister.
“My parents put in a movie of Sanibel showing all of these birds and alligators, and we both started crying,” says the co-owner of Marlins Brewhouse and Chronic Tacos in Fort Myers. He laughs heartily. “They thought it would get us excited.”
Tim Frederic is the co-owner of Chronic Tacos and Marlin Brewhouse in Fort Myers.
As far as the United States was concerned, Sanibel was about the farthest place from their home and friends in California. Tim’s father owned several McDonald’s and saw the business potential of Southwest Florida. He visited the area following a corporate meeting in Orlando and fell in love with it.
Tim started working part time in one of his father’s restaurants at the age of 12 and studied hospitably management at the University of Central Florida. After working in Orlando restaurants, he returned to Southwest Florida to run a new McDonald’s and eventually partner with his father in opening more.
As the Frederic restaurant domain grew to nine, Tim still had a dream of his own.
“I wanted to open a bar, have my own brand at some point, but it was hard to ignore McDonald’s,” he says.
Three years ago, Tim’s father died.
“I was 40 years old, and if I was going to make a change, it was now or never,” he remembers.
He sold the beloved franchise.
“It was a very hard decision,” he says. “It was something my family had worked for our whole lives. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
It was a big risk, stepping away from something that was sure, a well-oiled machine, to create something new and follow his dream.
Partnering with childhood friend Jeff Burns, the two bought a parcel of land on Six Mile Cypress between U.S. 41 and Metro Parkway.
“I’ve been here since 1987 and never understood why this well-traveled corridor was so underdeveloped,” Tim says.
The duo wanted to construct a building that allowed them to be landlords but also have space for their own project. Capturing the local, beach feel while highlighting local beer was the idea behind Marlins Brewhouse, serving only local beers on tap.
“We call ourselves the chamber of commerce of beer in our city,” Tim says. “Our beer tenders are knowledgeable about the beer, how it’s made, and will even then direct guests to the brewery if they want to visit.”
For the restaurant and bar design, “we wanted to sit inside but feel like we’re outside,” Tim says. The ceilings are tall, with glass garage doors that roll up on either side, allowing a breeze to come through, the numerous televisions are tuned to sports channels, and there is live music.
Placing great value in quality franchises, Tim and Jeff also invested in Chronic Tacos, establishing a walkup counter inside the brewhouse.
“There are a lot of big taco brands here,” Tim says. “This is a smaller, authentic chain that people here haven’t seen before.”
With his first Marlins Brewhouse and Chronic Tacos combo doing well, Tim and his partner are already inking plans to expand.
That doesn’t mean the Hamburger University graduate has forgotten about his roots.
“I still love McDonald’s,” he says. “It’s been a big part of my life. My birth announcement was literally on a Big Mac.”
His father founded the Ronald McDonald House in south Fort Myers, an organization that Tim still supports. On Black Friday while guests enjoyed a beer, he offered gift-wrapping in exchange for a donation to the house that takes care of families when their child is sick or injured and in treatment at the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida or other local medical facilities.
About following his dream, selling the family business and beginning something new, he says, “Mom was able to retire, and I think Dad would’ve loved what I’ve done. I wish he could’ve seen it. I think he is up there smiling right now.”