Barley Beach House Owner Wins $1K from Optimum for Feeding Westchester, Meets Derek Jeter
A co-owner of Rye’s Barley Beach House has won $1,000 for the nonprofit Feeding Westchester as part of a contest run by Optimum. Last year, the company invited customers and small business owners across its 21-state footprint to share how they are making a positive difference in their community and how they act as leaders, mentors, and role models. In addition to being given the $1,000 for their favorite charity, winners were flown to Miami for two nights to meet Yankee great Derek Jeter as the contest was part of the company’s ongoing GOAT advertising campaign starring Jeter.
The Barley House Restaurant Group co-owner Bobby Harris was one of ten winners and the only one from Westchester County. In his contest submission he told Optimum about a number of community activities including an annual golf tournament his company runs that raises $30,000 each year for charity including the Knights of Columbus food pantry in Mount Pleasant. Harris grew up in Yonkers and lives in Mt. Pleasant but spent a number of years in the early 2000s working at American Yacht Club and opened the Barley Beach House in Rye Town Park in 2018, the company’s third location in the County.
The Jeter promotion caught Harris’ attention as he was a Yankee season ticket holder for 20 years during Jeter’s time on the team. As for the face time Harris and his wife had with Jeter: “It was unbelievable. I mean, you know, it wasn’t just a photo op and a handshake. It was like you had time to talk to him to hang out with them.”
On the give back work, Harris is careful to point out he gets to do the fun stuff and and the Knights of Columbus does the hard work of operating its food pantry. Doing some good work and being involved in the community “it’s certainly a passion of ours,” said Harris.
His next charity golf outing is at the Knollwood Country Club on Monday, May 13th.
