For 10 years Luann Alber has helped her husband, Jeff, run Brick City Bar and Grill in Clermont. Under her guidance and supervision, she has helped turn the local restaurant into a destination eating establishment. While she doesn’t consider herself a businesswoman, her fortitude and savvy have helped the business remain profitable. Chris DeBack photo
Alber's business savvy helps Brick City thrive
By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com
For the last 10 years, Luann Alber has helped turn Brick City Bar and Grill into a destination restaurant in Clermont.
With the month of October designated as Women in Business Month, let's get to know the fearless co-leader of the local eating establishment.
Alber grew up in Gunder and was a 1973 Valley High School graduate. She met her husband, Jeff, while working at a factory in West Union. The couple were married in 1977.
Jeff originally wanted to buy Brick City when Jack and Gen McNeil had it for sale, but Luann refused, telling Jeff she didn’t want her kids to grow up in a bar.
Jeff went on to start Super Landscaping, located in West Union, and he recently purchased the West Union Events Center, but he always had an itch for opening a restaurant.
“I married my father, basically,” she recalled. “Jeff was just like my dad; he just works, works, and works. It was the way we were brought up.”
Ten years ago, Jeff got to scratch that itch when he was approached to purchase Brick City. Two women, whose names Luann can’t remember, told Jeff that if he bought it, they would manage it for him.
While Luann wasn’t at the restaurant much when it first opened, Jeff’s partnership with the two women didn’t last long. Just six months into ownership, Luann found herself helping out at the restaurant. That eventually grew into her helping manage the place.
