Myles Burks, Concord Tap House
You might say Concord's Myles Burks grew up in the business. He was all of 9 when he started working alongside his dad, Keith, making Louisiana-style barbecue at BJK's Rib Factory in Bethel Island and catering for the 49ers and Raiders.
“I was the bus boy, the host, whatever was needed,” says Burks, co-owner of Concord Tap House and Frickin' Fried, a soul food and fry house, also in Concord. “The mentality of working came easy. My father implemented that in me.”
Keith Burks passed away in June from heart failure, but not before instilling in Myles, 22, the importance of serving his community and making every customer feel like they're a regular.
“He is very much like his dad in that he always has a smile on his face, treats everyone equally and is a gregarious, positive-minded human,” says
Tony Fredericks, another Concord Tap House co-owner with his wife, Valerie.
Burks is filling his father's shoes with grace and grit, working behind the bar five nights a week and earning the nickname Captain Cavalry for every last-minute grocery run or unexpected beer delivery. Concord Tap House opened in 2018 in midtown and offers 24 rotating taps of California craft beer and a menu of suds-friendly pub food.
When he's not at the taphouse, Burks and his mom, Cathy, the fourth co-owner, are working to bring Keith's various projects to light. Of utmost importance is Chalk It Up, a Hayward pool hall that was destroyed by a 2-alarm fire in 2020. Burks is rebuilding, adding pingpong tables and a billiards room and expanding the kitchen. “I want to elevate the food with shareable tapas, make it an experience,” he says.
His next project — this one, his very own — will be a family-friendly destination for roller skating and miniature golf in central Contra Costa County. The large-scale entertainment venue will serve food, drinks and offer something most 22-year-olds probably don't think about.
“I want to create jobs in my community,” he says.
“The mentality of working came easy. My father implemented that in me.”
— Miles Burks