Bill and Brothers Swing at Restaurant Launch
The star of popular summer movies like Ghostbusters, Caddyshack and Stripes is staging a different kind of premiere this weekend.
Bill Murray and his five brothers -- actors Brian, Joel, John, and businessmen Andy and Ed -- are opening their first Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant, an eatery they describe as a ``country club gone awry.''
And in typical Murray fashion, they're doing it with a laugh.
All six brothers have converged upon the restaurant's home at North Florida's World Golf Village for three days of grand opening festivities, including a celebrity charity golf tournament.
``We wanted to team with St. Vincent's because we wanted to help and support the St. Vincent's Mobile Outreach Ministry, a health facility on wheels that provides free medical services to North Florida's poor,'' said Andy Murray.
The tournament had many participants including national and local celebrities, some which stated the tournament could be reminiscent of the restaurant's namesake movie.
``We do have a few 'serious' celebrities and sports figures like Richard Dent and Will Purdue participating, and we've brought in EmmyLou Harris for a concert,'' said chef and restaurateur Andy Murray, Caddyshack's co-founder and co-chairman. ``However given several of my brothers' acting background, it's not surprising that so many of the tournament guests have worked in funny movies, television shows or commercials. The golf courses may never be the same!''
Those playing in the tournament include Saturday Night Live ``Ladies Man'' Tim Meadows, stand-up comedian John Mendoza, Dharma & Greg star Thomas Gibson, Budweiser's ``I Love You Man'' Rob Fitzgerald, the Three Sister's Peter Bonerz, and Matt Griesser, signboy for Footjoy commercials.
``Needless to say, food will be provided by Murray Bros. Caddyshack,'' quipped Andy Murray.
According to Andy Murray, the inspiration for the restaurant stems back to the brothers' teenage years, when all of them worked as caddies and in several other golf-related jobs to pay their way through school. That experience inspired brother Brian (who wrote for Saturday Night Live) to co-write the movie Caddyshack, which brother Bill describes as ``the gripping tale of the Murray brothers' first experiments with employment.''
``Basically the restaurant combines our sense of irreverence with our love of golf,'' says Andy Murray. ``We're very excited to finally have the first one open - and we're especially excited that we could launch it in a place that's becoming such a mecca for golf.''
The first Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant is located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida, which includes the World Golf Hall of Fame and two championship golf courses. It encompasses 8,000 square feet of dining space, including The Bunker Bar and The Looper's Lounge, and features a full-service American grill menu. The restaurant is open seven days a week, serving lunch and dinner. Murray Bros. Caddyshack was developed by Connecticut-based CS Ventures LLC, which currently is exploring opening more Murray Bros. Caddyshacks in other urban markets and surburban/resort centers.
