Brett BISHOP^{[1, 2]}

• Name	Brett BISHOP  [3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina Rascals' new owner brings new ideas to local hangout Nick McCormac / The Item Rascals' new owner brings new ideas to local hangout Bishop prepares hot dogs in the kitchen of Rascals. Bishop, a cabinet maker by trade, bought ownership of Rascals on March 1 when the previous owners decided to sell it. He said he took over the business because he always wanted to own a restaurant. Posted: Sunday, July 3, 2011 6:00 am | Updated: 10:30 pm, Sat Jul 2, 2011. BY NICK McCORMAC nmccormac@theitem.com Brett Bishop brandishes a bottle of mustard like it's a weapon. He expertly applies a layer of the condiment to a row of hot dogs lined up in front of him like targets, setting the bottle aside as if holstering a six shooter. As a first-time small business owner in the game for only a few months, Bishop seems to be taking to the job with a lot of zest. Since March 1, Brett and his wife, Nancy, have owned and operated Rascals, the food-and-fun hangout spot at 1075 Alice Drive. Rascals has provided batting cages for the sporting types and served up a variety of comfort foods since it opened in 2005. Previous owners Mark and Gaiya Miller considered selling Rascals a couple years ago. When Bishop, a longtime Rascals patron, learned it was up for sale, he saw the opportunity he'd been waiting for and approached the Millers about buying. "I'm a cabinet maker by trade, but I've always had a love for cooking and always wanted to run a restaurant. This just happened at the right time," he said. Mark Miller said he knew Rascals would be in good hands. "My wife and I felt like we had taken Rascals as far as we could take it, and that it was time for someone else to take over," he said. "Brett's got a lot of pull in the community, and we've known him for a long time. It almost felt as if we were just promoting from within." Bishop employs about 15 Sumterites, many of them high schoolers or college students on summer break. Brett multitasks, running the business side as well as huffing it in the kitchen, along with his wife. Two of their sons, Rodger and Lucas, also work there. "Mark and Gaiya did a great job of making this a perfect spot for families," said Brett. "We wanted to keep that atmosphere and mentality going." To aid in that, the Bishops have carried on many of the traditions from the previous owners. Spirit nights are held throughout the week, with 15 percent of sales going to help different local organizations. Bible study groups and groups looking for a place to hold meetings are also invited. The menu hasn't changed much either. The usual burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and salads are still offered, but Bishop has a few new additions, including grilled cheese sandwiches and shrimp po'boys. Bishop said he plans to offer a "tailgate menu" during football season, and will hopefully have more TVs up so patrons can enjoy games on the weekends. He also hopes to have more family events and outings during the fall. "Rascals already had a good product. We've added a few menu items, and we're looking into maybe adding a few more," said Bishop. "Things didn't need to be changed; we were just looking for something new." And, of course, there are the batting cages, which Assistant Manager Eric Durbin said are still one of Rascals' biggest draws. "We get a ton of little league kids in here," he said. "They can go and practice while the parents stay in here and enjoy something to eat or drink. It works out for everyone." Durbin, 28, has worked at Rascals from Day 1. He said the transition from Miller to Bishop was an easy one and that his new boss picked up on everything quickly. "He's definitely keeping us all busy. There's a lot more work to do, but in a good way," he said. Miller said he's not disappointed. "I like what Brett's done since he took over," said Miller. "People have responded well to the changes he's made and what he wants to do with the place." Rascals is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is closed most holidays. For more information, call (803) 418-0151. Reach Nick McCormac at (803) 774-1214. Posted in Business on Sunday, July 3, 2011 Baker's Sweets expanding JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM Baker's Sweets expanding Jennifer Baker, owner and manager of Baker's Sweets Bakery and Café LLC, laughs after touching the pipe that will feed water to the new espresso machine. She and her staff of 27 look forward to having more space to work and offer Sumter more dining options. BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com If everything goes according to schedule, Baker's Sweets Bakery and Café LLC will mark its 13th anniversary in November with an expanded store. "Who said 13 is not a lucky number?" said Jennifer Baker, owner and manager of the local eatery. By taking over the adjacent area that was formerly a UPS store, Baker's Sweets will add an additional 1,900 square feet to bring the total to 4,500 square feet, she said. Not bad for a shop that started off November 2000 with 700 square feet in the Liberty Square shopping center. "Basically you'd walk in and order a custom cake, and then in a few days, you'd come back and pick it up," Baker said. "People kept asking, 'don't you have a muffin or cinnamon roll?' Slowly we added, and in 2003 we added coffee. We were working with Brick Street swapping coffee for bread." That was the same year Baker's Sweets moved to Alice Drive. Within three years, the shop was serving up lunch items; and nearly two years ago, the operation expanded to include a kiosk location at Tuomey Regional Medical Center that is now being run by Baker's 22-year-old son. "When I started the business, I started it so it didn't have to be my kids' dream," Baker said. "I wanted them to do whatever they want. But he seems to be really interested." While the discussion of the current $250,000 project has been under negotiations for a couple of years, the actual renovations began about three weeks ago. "It's taken a lot of prayer," Baker said. "The time would come, and we'd be knocking on the door to Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's just really hard for us to do it during the holidays. When the jackhammers started, I let the customers know about the renovations on Facebook. Up until then, it didn't seem real." She is also using the social media network to solicit ideas for new menu items. "We're adding a restaurant kitchen," Baker said. "A baker's kitchen is different from a restaurant, so we'll be able to expand the menu. We're hoping to have a Saturday brunch and add heartier dinner options, something more than just salads and sandwiches." To help her in this new endeavor, Brett Bishop from Rascals will become the culinary manager. She also hopes to add casseroles to go and a number of specialty breads. "We've had a lot of people asking about meals-on-the-go," Baker said. "Hopefully we can package casserole with a salad for two or four and a little bread so people will have an entire meal." The breads will also go nicely with the gluten-free, preservative-free Boar's Head lunch meats the eatery switched to two months ago and that are available by the pound, she said. Other shop additions include: • Private dining area for parties of 15 to 20 guests; • More seating including high-top or pub tables and booths; • Deli case and pastry case; • Two additional restrooms, one for employees and one for customers; • Express lane for customers wanting coffee only; and • Expanded retail section featuring work by local artists. "It will be fun to go back to doing kids' parties," Baker said. "Awhile back, we'd have them decorate cookies or cakes, but it always had to be after we closed or Sunday afternoons. This building has been good to us. It's not really designed to do what we've been doing. It will be nice to have a little extra room." Baker's Sweets will remain closed on Sundays, but it will open at 6 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. and stay open until 8 p.m. or possibly 9 p.m. She's worked with some wonderful people over the years, Baker said, and she never imagined the business growing this much. "My mom was a hairdresser, and when she found out she was pregnant, a lady who always came in for her curl and set offered to be my godmother," Baker said. "She was never able to have children of her own, so when she passed away, she left me the money I used to start the bakery. She was an accountant for the U.S. government, so I think she'd be proud to see how I grew her money." Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Rascals will close; most of staff will move to bakery BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com The planned expansion of Baker's Sweets Bakery and Café LLC has proven a blessing in a tough situation. Rascals will close Sept. 28, but owner and manager Brett Bishop will become the new culinary manager at Baker's Sweets. The majority of his 15-person staff will also be transferring to Baker's Sweets. "It's an answered prayer," he said. "Things happen for a reason. We're excited and looking forward to it. I think it will be good for our community in the Alice Drive area." Opened in 2005 by Mark and Gaiya Miller, Rascals changed hands to Bishop and his wife, Nancy, in March 2011. They kept many of the menu items such as burgers, hot dogs and ice cream and added a few new ones such as grilled-cheese sandwiches and shrimp po'boys. But with the batting cages being such a draw, business was more seasonal. The lease was coming up, and it was time to make a decision. "We had to decide if we wanted to keep it open or move it," Brett Bishop said. "We decided we'd close. During this process, Jennifer (Baker, owner and manager of Baker's Sweets) and I had been talking. It's just a win-win situation." Business will continue as usual at Rascals until the restaurant closes, he said. "I'm super excited to have him (Bishop)," Baker said. "It's kind of an upside to a downside." Bishop, too, is looking forward to joining Baker. "I'm very excited about it," he said. "We're planning to expand her breakfast menu. We'll keep lunch to a quick service for folks on a time frame, and we're hoping to add some entr e items in the evening." As a culinary manager, he will mostly train and oversee staff. He will also be responsible for ordering supplies and making sure the restaurant side has everything it needs. But he's not afraid to jump in and help if needed. "I'm not above getting my hands dirty," Bishop said. "I'm used to it after two-and-a-half years." Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Wednesday, September 11, 2013  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina Rascals' new owner brings new ideas to local hangout Nick McCormac / The Item Rascals' new owner brings new ideas to local hangout Bishop prepares hot dogs in the kitchen of Rascals. Bishop, a cabinet maker by trade, bought ownership of Rascals on March 1 when the previous owners decided to sell it. He said he took over the business because he always wanted to own a restaurant. Posted: Sunday, July 3, 2011 6:00 am | Updated: 10:30 pm, Sat Jul 2, 2011. BY NICK McCORMAC nmccormac@theitem.com Brett Bishop brandishes a bottle of mustard like it's a weapon. He expertly applies a layer of the condiment to a row of hot dogs lined up in front of him like targets, setting the bottle aside as if holstering a six shooter. As a first-time small business owner in the game for only a few months, Bishop seems to be taking to the job with a lot of zest. Since March 1, Brett and his wife, Nancy, have owned and operated Rascals, the food-and-fun hangout spot at 1075 Alice Drive. Rascals has provided batting cages for the sporting types and served up a variety of comfort foods since it opened in 2005. Previous owners Mark and Gaiya Miller considered selling Rascals a couple years ago. When Bishop, a longtime Rascals patron, learned it was up for sale, he saw the opportunity he'd been waiting for and approached the Millers about buying. "I'm a cabinet maker by trade, but I've always had a love for cooking and always wanted to run a restaurant. This just happened at the right time," he said. Mark Miller said he knew Rascals would be in good hands. "My wife and I felt like we had taken Rascals as far as we could take it, and that it was time for someone else to take over," he said. "Brett's got a lot of pull in the community, and we've known him for a long time. It almost felt as if we were just promoting from within." Bishop employs about 15 Sumterites, many of them high schoolers or college students on summer break. Brett multitasks, running the business side as well as huffing it in the kitchen, along with his wife. Two of their sons, Rodger and Lucas, also work there. "Mark and Gaiya did a great job of making this a perfect spot for families," said Brett. "We wanted to keep that atmosphere and mentality going." To aid in that, the Bishops have carried on many of the traditions from the previous owners. Spirit nights are held throughout the week, with 15 percent of sales going to help different local organizations. Bible study groups and groups looking for a place to hold meetings are also invited. The menu hasn't changed much either. The usual burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and salads are still offered, but Bishop has a few new additions, including grilled cheese sandwiches and shrimp po'boys. Bishop said he plans to offer a "tailgate menu" during football season, and will hopefully have more TVs up so patrons can enjoy games on the weekends. He also hopes to have more family events and outings during the fall. "Rascals already had a good product. We've added a few menu items, and we're looking into maybe adding a few more," said Bishop. "Things didn't need to be changed; we were just looking for something new." And, of course, there are the batting cages, which Assistant Manager Eric Durbin said are still one of Rascals' biggest draws. "We get a ton of little league kids in here," he said. "They can go and practice while the parents stay in here and enjoy something to eat or drink. It works out for everyone." Durbin, 28, has worked at Rascals from Day 1. He said the transition from Miller to Bishop was an easy one and that his new boss picked up on everything quickly. "He's definitely keeping us all busy. There's a lot more work to do, but in a good way," he said. Miller said he's not disappointed. "I like what Brett's done since he took over," said Miller. "People have responded well to the changes he's made and what he wants to do with the place." Rascals is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is closed most holidays. For more information, call (803) 418-0151. Reach Nick McCormac at (803) 774-1214. Posted in Business on Sunday, July 3, 2011 Baker's Sweets expanding JADE ANDERSON / THE ITEM Baker's Sweets expanding Jennifer Baker, owner and manager of Baker's Sweets Bakery and Café LLC, laughs after touching the pipe that will feed water to the new espresso machine. She and her staff of 27 look forward to having more space to work and offer Sumter more dining options. BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com If everything goes according to schedule, Baker's Sweets Bakery and Café LLC will mark its 13th anniversary in November with an expanded store. "Who said 13 is not a lucky number?" said Jennifer Baker, owner and manager of the local eatery. By taking over the adjacent area that was formerly a UPS store, Baker's Sweets will add an additional 1,900 square feet to bring the total to 4,500 square feet, she said. Not bad for a shop that started off November 2000 with 700 square feet in the Liberty Square shopping center. "Basically you'd walk in and order a custom cake, and then in a few days, you'd come back and pick it up," Baker said. "People kept asking, 'don't you have a muffin or cinnamon roll?' Slowly we added, and in 2003 we added coffee. We were working with Brick Street swapping coffee for bread." That was the same year Baker's Sweets moved to Alice Drive. Within three years, the shop was serving up lunch items; and nearly two years ago, the operation expanded to include a kiosk location at Tuomey Regional Medical Center that is now being run by Baker's 22-year-old son. "When I started the business, I started it so it didn't have to be my kids' dream," Baker said. "I wanted them to do whatever they want. But he seems to be really interested." While the discussion of the current $250,000 project has been under negotiations for a couple of years, the actual renovations began about three weeks ago. "It's taken a lot of prayer," Baker said. "The time would come, and we'd be knocking on the door to Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's just really hard for us to do it during the holidays. When the jackhammers started, I let the customers know about the renovations on Facebook. Up until then, it didn't seem real." She is also using the social media network to solicit ideas for new menu items. "We're adding a restaurant kitchen," Baker said. "A baker's kitchen is different from a restaurant, so we'll be able to expand the menu. We're hoping to have a Saturday brunch and add heartier dinner options, something more than just salads and sandwiches." To help her in this new endeavor, Brett Bishop from Rascals will become the culinary manager. She also hopes to add casseroles to go and a number of specialty breads. "We've had a lot of people asking about meals-on-the-go," Baker said. "Hopefully we can package casserole with a salad for two or four and a little bread so people will have an entire meal." The breads will also go nicely with the gluten-free, preservative-free Boar's Head lunch meats the eatery switched to two months ago and that are available by the pound, she said. Other shop additions include: • Private dining area for parties of 15 to 20 guests; • More seating including high-top or pub tables and booths; • Deli case and pastry case; • Two additional restrooms, one for employees and one for customers; • Express lane for customers wanting coffee only; and • Expanded retail section featuring work by local artists. "It will be fun to go back to doing kids' parties," Baker said. "Awhile back, we'd have them decorate cookies or cakes, but it always had to be after we closed or Sunday afternoons. This building has been good to us. It's not really designed to do what we've been doing. It will be nice to have a little extra room." Baker's Sweets will remain closed on Sundays, but it will open at 6 a.m. instead of 6:30 a.m. and stay open until 8 p.m. or possibly 9 p.m. She's worked with some wonderful people over the years, Baker said, and she never imagined the business growing this much. "My mom was a hairdresser, and when she found out she was pregnant, a lady who always came in for her curl and set offered to be my godmother," Baker said. "She was never able to have children of her own, so when she passed away, she left me the money I used to start the bakery. She was an accountant for the U.S. government, so I think she'd be proud to see how I grew her money." Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Wednesday, September 11, 2013 Rascals will close; most of staff will move to bakery BY JADE ANDERSON janderson@theitem.com The planned expansion of Baker's Sweets Bakery and Café LLC has proven a blessing in a tough situation. Rascals will close Sept. 28, but owner and manager Brett Bishop will become the new culinary manager at Baker's Sweets. The majority of his 15-person staff will also be transferring to Baker's Sweets. "It's an answered prayer," he said. "Things happen for a reason. We're excited and looking forward to it. I think it will be good for our community in the Alice Drive area." Opened in 2005 by Mark and Gaiya Miller, Rascals changed hands to Bishop and his wife, Nancy, in March 2011. They kept many of the menu items such as burgers, hot dogs and ice cream and added a few new ones such as grilled-cheese sandwiches and shrimp po'boys. But with the batting cages being such a draw, business was more seasonal. The lease was coming up, and it was time to make a decision. "We had to decide if we wanted to keep it open or move it," Brett Bishop said. "We decided we'd close. During this process, Jennifer (Baker, owner and manager of Baker's Sweets) and I had been talking. It's just a win-win situation." Business will continue as usual at Rascals until the restaurant closes, he said. "I'm super excited to have him (Bishop)," Baker said. "It's kind of an upside to a downside." Bishop, too, is looking forward to joining Baker. "I'm very excited about it," he said. "We're planning to expand her breakfast menu. We'll keep lunch to a quick service for folks on a time frame, and we're hoping to add some entr e items in the evening." As a culinary manager, he will mostly train and oversee staff. He will also be responsible for ordering supplies and making sure the restaurant side has everything it needs. But he's not afraid to jump in and help if needed. "I'm not above getting my hands dirty," Bishop said. "I'm used to it after two-and-a-half years." Reach Jade Anderson at (803) 774-1250. Posted in Local news, News on Wednesday, September 11, 2013
  Occupation	he took ownership of Rascal’s (1075 Alice Drive, Sumter, South Carolina) on March 1, 2011  [3]
  Occupation	he took ownership of Rascal’s (1075 Alice Drive, Sumter, South Carolina) on March 1, 2011  [3]
  _UID	861C7A32448D4E17B92E0296F39E9298BEBA
  _UID	861C7A32448D4E17B92E0296F39E9298BEBA
  Person ID	I267588	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	30 Dec 2023

  
  

  Father	Rodger E. BISHOP, U.S. Air Force Retired Chief Master Sgt.,   b. 1933   d. 29 Oct 2017, Palmetto Health Tuomey Hospital, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Margaret MITCHELL,   b. 26 Dec 1931, Union County, South Carolina d. 27 Dec 2023, Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina (Age 92 years)
  Marriage	1952  [1]
  _UID	8DDCA708C89E405D91CCC6E121E3A4713838
  _UID	8DDCA708C89E405D91CCC6E121E3A4713838
  Family ID	F210554	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Nancy
  _UID	3FE3308471384571ADEFD241813DBDC3220A
  _UID	3FE3308471384571ADEFD241813DBDC3220A
  Children	1. Lucas BISHOP   2. Rodger BISHOP, II   3. Parker BISHOP
  Family ID	F180135	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	30 Dec 2023

  
  

• Sources

  [S25512] Roger E. Bishop. [S31487] Margaret Mitchell Bishop. [S16234] Rascals’ new owner brings new ideas to local hangout. [S19944] Baker’s Sweets expanding. [S19945] Rascals will close; most of staff will move to bakery.