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\u201cHe taught me how to always treat people with respect, give back when you can, and help others in need,\u201d Devan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That generosity, he said, often goes unnoticed by the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that is one thing a lot of people don’t hear about him \u2014 he has given a lot to other people without asking for any type of recognition or a pat on the back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those character-building lessons from his father helped shape who he is today as a husband, father, and business owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devan\u2019s history at Crazy Ray\u2019s started in the kitchen, where he cooked for those he cared about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have always enjoyed cooking for others, whether it was for family, friends, or co-workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Helping his dad during events and filling in when staff ran short gave him a glimpse of something bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt opened my eyes to a future I could have,\u201d Devan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, as the owner of the restaurant, his work begins before most people are out of bed. It takes quite a bit of early-morning prep for breakfast service. Devan and his dad are the main cooks, but the whole family and staff pitch in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn the weekends, you may see me, my wife, and kids walking into the restaurant to clean and prepare for the week ahead,\u201d Devan said. \u201cWe have additional employees who are great and really care about what they do and serving our customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is truly a team effort by the Bean family and the staff at Crazy Ray\u2019s that has kept the business successful. Since taking over, Devan has kept changes minimal in an effort to preserve what his family has built. He did add some merchandise, such as hats and tumblers, but the menu and the feel of the place have stayed largely intact. His philosophy is straightforward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m a believer of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.'”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crazy Ray\u2019s team effort is not limited to the staff and family \u2014 even customers have contributed ideas that have landed on the menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome of the menu items are named after customers who have customized their own meals, and then those meals turn out to be top sellers,\u201d Devan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other dishes were derived from family memories, such as the catfish nuggets, born from the family\u2019s tradition of having fish fries growing up and cutting the fish into smaller pieces rather than fillets. The restaurant added steak tots and steak wraps after that. The ever-growing menu and laid-back atmosphere attract crowds looking for a fun, unique, but down-to-earth venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur main vision was to have a space everyone feels invited in. Most days, you will come in and hear \u201880s music. We want our customers to have a good time when dining with us because we are all here to have a good time with each other,\u201d Devan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Devan\u2019s dad, Billy Ray, still works alongside him as needed, and said it has been an amazing experience sharing his dream with his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy youngest son, Bladyn, now 16, was cleaning tables and washing dishes at 6 years old,\u201d Billy Ray said. \u201cNow my oldest son and his family have taken the leap into the business, and Bladyn helps as needed. We couldn\u2019t be happier with all the support we have had. It’s been an incredible experience!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Devan shares his father\u2019s enthusiasm and vision for the restaurant and hopes that, maybe someday, his young children will as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope as my kids get older, they enjoy being in the restaurant and want to work with me. I would love to have them beside me,\u201d Devan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Athens Ray already carries the name, so it looks like Crazy Ray’s may be just getting started. GN<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" THE LOCALLY popular Crazy Ray\u2019s restaurant in Fayetteville represents a family tradition spanning four generations. Devan Ray Bean is the newest owner of Crazy Ray\u2019s; he recently bought it in February of this year from his father, Billy Ray Bean. It is a business that he knows well, and with which he shares a name. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":25867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fayetteville","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/fayetteville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/1-1024x683.jpg\")
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