Island Time – Brown Boyz have their priorities straight

Kimo and Nikole Morrison are ready for the next wave of loyal customers

By Liv Stecker

  Someone once asked the Morrisons if the reason that their restaurant isn’t open on Saturdays is to observe a Sabbath – Kimo and Nikole laugh. “Only if you consider wrestling a religion!” Nikole says.  For the fans of Brown Boyz Ohana Eatery who are waiting for a Saturday teriyaki fix, Kimo says it’s not gonna happen. Not as long as there are wrestling matches, football practices and baseball games to make it to.

  Kimo Morrison has been cooking since he was in grade school, learning Hawaiian family recipes from his mom and grandfather, and eventually honing his culinary skills beginning at the Roadhouse (now Lovitts Restaurant) and other dining establishments. Over the years, the family teriyaki recipes became a standard request at all events with friends and relatives, and the Morrisons decided to take a leap of faith.

  In 2010, Kimo and Nikole called in all of their favors with friends and family and sank their last bit of savings into a teriyaki booth for the Chewelah Chataqua. Operating on borrowed equipment with a staff of mostly relatives, they sold out of teriyaki the first night. After the first Chataqua, Brown Boyz became a staple at local fairs and festivals. More and more people asked about a permanent restaurant. After two seasons of serving Kimo’s famous teriyaki out of a booth at events, the Morrisons decided to set up shop in Colville.

   In May of 2012, Kimo and Nikole opened the doors of Brown Boyz Ohana Eatery in the building that had once been the home of Colville’s Pooch Parlor. The Hawaiian barbeque was an eclectic taste that northern Stevens County hadn’t experienced, and the place was an instant hit. Business was good from the get go – Brown Boyz didn’t have to worry about a gradual build up of clientele as word of mouth advertising spread like wildfire. After only thirteen months in their new site, tragedy struck when the restaurant burnt to the ground in June of 2013.

  It took the Morrisons some time to regroup, and they went back to serving terriyaki at summer events while they figured out how to come back from the disaster. At last the doors they had been waiting for cracked open and they moved into the former location of Heather’s Fairytale Bakery, at 576 North Wynne Street. The sprawling, two-story restaurant was the ideal spot for the island BBQ to reopen. January 15, 2015, Kimo and Nikole attempted a soft opening of the newly re-launched business. But instead of a “soft” opening, word got out and they were slammed. There was no easing into the new set up for Brown Boyz. Open only for lunch, five days a week, the eatery has been lucky to keep up with demand. As customers clamor for longer hours, dinners and weekends, the Morrisons come back to their first priority: their kids.

  Kimo grew up learning Karate from his father, who taught classes free to the community throughout Kimo’s youth. His passion for combat sports eventually transferred over to wrestling, what Kimo calls “America’s martial art”. While cooking has always been something that Kimo has enjoyed, being involved in community sports, particularly with his sons, is his strongest drive, “both are my passions,” he says, “but if I put them in order, kids come first every time.” In addition to the 10-month wrestling season, Kimo also coaches baseball and football. While he loves being a business owner in the community and providing a much-in-demand service, his sees his priority as working his business around his family and his commitments to community youth, and not the other way around. Beyond happy customers, for Kimo, “most importantly, it’s the kids in this community” that he owes his time to.

  The Morrisons are considering expanding their staff at the restaurant as they move ahead with the mission of pleasing their fans and maintaining consistency in their product. Kimo laughs, “there’s just one of me!” and appreciates the patience of his dedicated customers as Brown Boyz works out the kinks and becomes more efficient without sacrificing the quality of his recipes. “I am not superman,” he says jokingly, “but there is a lot more than what I make here.” In reference to future plans, he mentions, “I’d like to get outside of this box.” But Kimo and Nikole aren’t in a hurry. It truly is Hawaiian time at Brown Boyz – and a chance for the rest of the community to slow down and enjoy the rewards of having straight priorities. While Kimo’s dad gave to the community tirelessly and worked full time, he felt the effect of being gone all of the time. “I want to live my life differently, Kimo explains, “I work to make money to be with my boys,” and that’s the end goal. The boys, in return, give back. In addition to the restaurant, Brown Boyz still runs a teriyaki booth for local events, which his sons and athletes help to operate. Kimo says working during the summer with the boys that he coaches the rest of the year builds trust – and he knows who the hard workers are.

  Recently Brown Boyz opened for dinner two days a week, offering their full menu from 11-7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s the first step toward more hours and making a lot of customers happy. Kimo looks forward to expanding more as he gets staff trained and feels confident that Brown Boyz can be consistent in all of the meals they offer all of the time. Knowing that many loyal followers come to the eatery to cure a craving, it’s important to Kimo that they get exactly what they remember, something that can get watered down or totally changed without careful replication and training. The pressure of doing more takes a back seat to doing it well for Brown Boyz. While being open on Sundays for brunch and specialty meals down the road is a possibility, the Morrisons have ruled out Saturdays indefinitely, saving that day for the never-ending string of sporting events that are so important to the whole family.

  Brown Boyz also offers event catering and private parties or dinners hosted in their spacious new location. They have a comfortable conference room available to use as well for meetings and parties. For more information, you can find them on Facebook, or contact Brown Boyz at 509-684-2888, email: brownboyzeatery@gmail.com.