![\"Alan](\"https:\/\/www.send2press.com\/wire\/images\/21-0514-Alan-Laird-696x522.jpg\")
PHOTO CAPTION: Alan Laird, Owner, AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar DB, MSB of Destin LLC.<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cNation\u2019s Restaurant News\u201d released its selections for its annual \u201cPower List Reader Picks\u201d in February 2021 and Laird was thrilled and honored to be recognized and to join some of the top players in the restaurant industry. This year\u2019s list focused on leadership and nominees ranged from restaurant CEOs and chefs to store managers who are making an impact through innovation.<\/p>\n
So, what\u2019s Laird\u2019s secret to success? It\u2019s a pretty simple formula. Laird believes that it all hinges on good communication between staff and being polite to customers and each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen customers come in, say \u2018hello.\u2019 Thank them for coming in when they\u2019re on their way out and ask if they enjoyed everything. Invite them to come back in,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
Laird has remained true to this basic philosophy since opening his doors in 1984 and apparently, it\u2019s paid off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be here today without this great team behind me,\u201d he says. \u201cI appreciate that they have helped me to continue to stand out among restaurant executives across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laird, a Florida native, was born and raised in the state\u2019s panhandle, and has worked in restaurants all his life. In 1984, he opened the first AJ\u2019s Seafood & Oyster Bar. It started out as a small burger and oyster joint that sold beer. Today, he has four restaurant locations and a 55-acre farm where he raises Black Angus, Waygu cattle and seasonal produce that he uses in these restaurants. The latest addition is a public market in Destin, AJ\u2019s Specialty Meats and Gourmet Market, that sells locally-sourced meats and produce.<\/p>\n
Laird has also broken out into beverage branding over the past few years and is excited about AJ\u2019s branded vodka and two different beers brewed exclusively for AJ\u2019s by Props Craft Beer. These products are available at all AJ\u2019s locations, as well as local restaurants and stores in the panhandle.<\/p>\n
About AJ\u2019s Seafood & Oyster Bar<\/strong><\/p>\n AJ\u2019s Seafood & Oyster Bar serves the freshest seafood and mixed drinks along the beautiful Emerald Coast. It has live entertainment seven days a week and has been recognized on many local lists that include \u201cBest of the Emerald Coast,\u201d and \u201cBest of South Walton.\u201d It\u2019s also received national recognition from \u201cNightclub and Bar Magazine\u201d as one of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Top 100 Nightclubs in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n For more information about \u201cNation\u2019s Restaurant News\u201d Power List 2020: https:\/\/www.nrn.com\/people\/most-influential-restaurant-executives-country-chosen-nation-s-restaurant-news-readers<\/a><\/p>\n