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Dennis Byrd is a born-and-bred Galvestonian and president of Island Famous, Inc., a hospitality company operating three local beachfront properties.
Byrd was first hired by The Spot in Galveston, Texas when he was 18. He was saving money for college and drove home every weekend from LSU to work at the restaurant, according to ABC 7 News. Marion and Diane Duzich bought the property in 1998 and operated The Spot until they sold everything to Byrd four years later in 2002. The Spot became the first venue to make up Island Famous, Inc. and Byrd put everything he had into making it one of the most popular destinations on the island.
"The Spot is the first and only restaurant that I have ever worked in," Byrd told the Houston Daily. "The founders, Marion and Diane Duzich, were wonderful people and allowed me to work as many hours as I was able, so I could afford college. Upon graduating LSU, Marion and Diane offered me an opportunity to lease The Spot with an option to buy."
Under Byrd's ownership, The Spot grew out of several nearby houses that were slated for demolition to make way for a parking lot, according to Galveston Guide. Byrd converted the outlying buildings and added four bars: Tiki Bar, SideYard, Squeeze Ritas & Tequilas and RumShack. The bars are among many additions to the complex, making it an attractive beachfront destination.
"Over the last 20+ years, The Spot has transformed from a small beachfront burger joint to a beachfront dining and entertainment destination," Byrd told the Houston Daily. "We understand how important it is to meet our guest expectations to ensure every dining experience is memorable. However, what makes The Spot most special is our unwavering commitment to support our team, guest, and community."
Byrd said that when the pandemic hit in 2020, sales were down 95% and he had to furlough 90% of his employees. Byrd was forced to furlough 173 employees to survive the pandemic, ABC 7 reported. Within a few weeks, he began a plan to prioritize "people over profits." He has since rehired almost all of his furloughed employees, raised their wages and handed out bonuses.
"The furloughs were by far, the single most difficult decision of my career," Byrd told the Houston Daily. "However, during the closures, we made a decision to put our people over profit. This wasn’t an exercise in profitability but rather an exercise in compassion."
Local consumers have since returned in huge numbers to support the establishment.
"2020 just gave me the opportunity to share with the world, what we’ve done for nearly two decades," Byrd said. "Without my team, there is no us, I’ll never forget that."
According to Byrd's LinkedIn page, Island Famous, Inc. is a hospitality company operating three beachfront properties in Galveston, Texas. The flagship property, The Spot, along with its four bars. The second beachfront destination includes the full service DoubleTree by Hilton Galveston Beach & Longboard Pool Bar. Its newest development, a beachfront Holiday Inn Express & Suites, opened in Q4 2019 and is located adjacent to the flagship property.