The atmosphere is quiet in the hours before opening at Barnyard BBQ. Chairs scrape against the floor as staff move seats off the dance floor. Bartenders unload new bottles, cut limes and refill ice. For a college bar, this level of preparation would be surprising. Instead, it’s a reflection of new leadership.
At the center of big changes is Sydney Baker, FCRH ’26, who has quickly risen from bartender to manager in just over a month. Baker spent last semester studying abroad in Spain before returning to Fordham and joining Barnyard.
Her quick promotion wasn’t just luck — it was a mix of experience, initiative and an eye for organization that caught the attention of owner Simon Kajtazi.
“Sometimes college students take jobs just for the paycheck, but Sydney cares about the business,” Kajtazi said. “She saw things that could be changed easily and took the initiative. I’m old school. I’m not that great with social media or tech. She brought in fresh ideas and has followed through on them.”
Baker’s background in the restaurant industry played a major role in her ability to step up so quickly. Having grown up with a mother who runs a food business and studied at the Culinary Institute of America, Baker was exposed early on to the complexities of restaurant management.
“I just have a desire to fix things,” Baker said. “I grew up in the restaurant business, so I know how things should run. Coming here, I saw simple things that could be improved without even spending extra money. Things like organizing the staff better, improving scheduling and revamping the way we market the bar to students.”
With Barnyard facing dire financial struggles and a dwindling Fordham customer base, Baker has taken on the challenge of restoring the bar’s reputation. One of her first initiatives was consolidating the five different employee group chats into one and streamlining communication.
She also noticed that many Fordham students had abandoned Barnyard in favor of other bars, a trend she was determined to reverse.
“Barnyard used to be the place to go, and now people laugh when they walk by,” she said. “I don’t like that. The drinks are cheaper here, but people would rather pay a huge cover elsewhere. I wanted to understand why.”
To better understand the bar’s issues, Baker decided to work every position available, working as a bartender, bouncer and at the door to observe customer behavior firsthand. She quickly identified branding and social media as major weak spots and convinced Kajtazi to give her access to the bar’s accounts.
She created a TikTok, took over Instagram and began actively promoting Barnyard’s events and deals, an effort that had been largely neglected before her arrival.
One recent success was a job fair hosted at Barnyard. Football players signed up to bartend and bounce, and some rugby players DJ. This effort, Baker said, is all part of her broader effort to reintegrate Fordham students into the bar’s culture.
“We really need people to show up,” she said. “Simon has been through financial struggles, and we’re trying to make Barnyard a staple again. That means getting students involved, whether as employees, DJs or just customers.”
Kajtazi, who has owned Barnyard since 2017 and has seen the ups and downs of the Fordham bar scene, is hopeful that Baker’s leadership will bring new energy to the business.
“We’re going fully college-focused now,” Kajtazi said. “Sydney is in tune with what students want. She’s bringing in new DJs, creating themed nights and making sure the word gets out. I gave her a shot, and she’s making it work.”
Looking ahead, Baker is excited about the upcoming events she’s planned, from themed drink specials to live music nights and a potential Saturday brunch with unlimited pizza and pasta.
She envisions Barnyard as a welcoming, fun space where students feel comfortable hanging out without the pressure of high cover charges or overcrowded dance floors.
“I want Barnyard to feel like Fordham’s bar again,” she said. “We’re making it a place where students want to be — not just a backup option.”
