People over profit: Michelle Holcomb serves more than meals

"If we care for one another, no one goes without."

That’s a philosophy Michelle Holcomb believes in so much she’s made it her life slogan.

Another, which she borrowed from renowned author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, says, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

Holcomb, as the owner of Beef 'O’ Brady’s in Wooster, makes her living feeding people. When she’s not making her living feeding people, she feeds people.

Holcomb opened her restaurant in summer 2022 — not exactly the best time to open a food-service establishment. It was during the midst of the pandemic when nobody was going out to eat.

Not long after taking over Beef 'O’ Brady’s — located at 244 S. Market St. in Wooster in the middle of the city’s restaurant district — as her primary vocation, Holcomb and her husband Jason created HPOP Holdings, with the HPOP standing for Holcomb’s People Over Profit and the name paying tribute to Jerry “Pop” Holcomb, Jason’s father, whose legacy inspires the work done by his namesake.

Holcomb cited words from John 21:15-17, quoting Jesus telling Peter, “Feed my sheep.”

“Feeding isn’t just food,” Holcomb said. “People are hungry for connections. People are hungry for mentorship. Most people who have come through my doors in 30 years of working at restaurants have been from all walks of life: young people, moms, divorcees, widows, men who are working three jobs to feed their families."

So she feeds them, literally or metaphorically.

“If you’re good to people,” Holcomb said, “they will be good to you.”

Holcomb, wanting to help anyone she could, created the concept of “Better Together.” As part of that, she and Beef 'O’ Brady’s have participated in fundraiser after fundraiser.

That has consisted of helping in three areas: community, a Student Spotlight that shines on area schools, and businesses. She looked for people and entities in those groups first for fundraising partners and supported them for up to six months.

The growing list of community groups Holcomb’s efforts have helped includes the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio, Wooster Youth Football, Norwayne Youth Baseball, Norwayne Youth Football, Wooster Ballet, Habitat for Humanity, Bright Life Players, Alzheimer’s Association and the Wooster Bulls.

On the school front, the group has been involved with the Waynedale, Wooster, Norwayne, Orrville, Smithville and Triway districts, along with The College of Wooster.

Businesses include Sign Design, Illusions Screen Printing, Team Ream Sports Performance — CrossFit Wooster, Certified Angus Beef and Buchwalter Greenhouse.

“We did the community leg, Wooster Youth Baseball and the Summer League merger that happened last summer,” Holcomb said. “We did Friends and Family Days with the teams, fundraising for them. We had coupon books for fundraising throughout the season. We did banners.

“With the Student Spotlight, each school system received $1,700 worth of Beef bucks. They can pass them out to teachers, substitutes, administrators, anyone they want to recognize throughout the district. With the Student Spotlight, when I noticed Wooster had some kids that felt like doing some philanthropy through the community, I’d reach out and say, ‘Hey, I want those kids to get recognized. Come in and get lunch and be recognized for sowing seeds throughout the community.'

“For Wooster High School, a lot of people are financially struggling. This is for everyone and every income bracket. You can come in and get a lunch for $10.99.”

For events such as team meals for high school squads and booster clubs, Holcomb has a special menu at Beef 'O’ Brady’s where things are priced at cost, which enables teams to be provided with quality meals at affordable prices without having to expend the effort of putting them on themselves.

“We don’t make any money off it,” she said. “That’s what the world should have. There’s no big profit margin.”

As a mom of three boys involved in sports and various activities, Holcomb knows there’s always a need and there’s always an opportunity to fill a need. As a resident of Wooster for the past 30 years, she is happy to be able to provide something to her community.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “You see these relationships all throughout time. Everybody starts having kids. Then your kids start making friends in other districts. We just have a big quilt, and everyone has responsibility for keeping their threads strong. If someone is struggling, if everyone takes care of everybody, everyone will be OK.”

Holcomb’s philanthropy spreads beyond just contributing and providing for those in need of help. She looks to get her staff opportunities for their days after Beef 'O’ Brady’s.

With most restaurant workers being students of one variety or another, she talks to people she works with in and around her store and tries to connect them with employees, students who might be looking for greater opportunities.

All this while keeping an eye fixed on her own business, which is in a world where things are always precarious. Nothing is guaranteed. Keeping her ducks in a row is a priority every single day.

“Beef 'O’ Brady’s is a three-month snapshot,” Holcomb said. “It all comes down to working capital. If you’ve lost it, you’re operating on daily sales.”

If things don’t work out for some reason, Holcomb knows she gave it her best and will have no regrets.

“If our story is short for whatever reason and at any time,” Holcomb said, “it has already been worth it.”