Sometimes perseverance is key.

“Jim is a great guy,” says Cape Beverage General Manager Justin Vitti. “We originally had him on the books to interview back in 2020 BC — Before COVID — and he had a family emergency come up and couldn’t interview. When we finally made it to 2021 and the job was reposted, he reached out to me to ask if he could reapply since he missed his chance last year. He interviewed very well (early and prepared), brought a wide range of experiences to the table from route sales to delivery to freight lanes, and is just a really nice guy overall. He wasn’t intimidated by the weight of the kegs and even joked, he will just have to make multiple trips faster than one trip.” 

Welcome Jim McCaffrey!

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jim attended Spring Garden College, a former technical school in the Spring Garden section of Philly, before entering a career in sales, primarily with small-freight trucking companies in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware.

“I got out of trucking sales after my wife passed away,” he explains. Jim unexpectedly lost his wife, a non-smoker, to lung cancer nineteen years ago. “My children were only 14 and 12 at the time.”

He wanted to be able to spend more time at home, and simply being in the position at the trucking company brought up a lot of difficult memories for Jim, so he felt it was time to move on. He joined a friend of his who’d opened a sportswear company in Doylestown, working in sales.

“He’d owned that since 1982, ‘83,” he says, “and he’d always done well, but he was downsizing and ready to retire. At the end, he was trying to keep me on, so I picked up some driving, as well. I’d go out on the road a couple of days a week, making deliveries.”

Jim enjoyed this aspect of the business — while it wasn’t quite sales, he still had a lot of interaction with customers. However, when his friend was ready to give up the business, Jim moved to work with the police and fire departments in Philadelphia for a stretch, primarily in collections.

“I worked all the different shows and fundraisers. I wasn’t a police officer or fireman or anything, but I did carry ID with me, just in case they got me on parking anywhere in Philly,” he laughs. “I was with them for about four years.”

Jim moved down to Brigantine about five years ago. He and his wife always had a goal to retire to the shore, so, once he got the kids through high school and college, he decided to live their dream.

“I took a part-time position with Atlanticare, the healthcare system down there,” he explains. “I was offered a position and wound up taking a place right across the street from the beach in Brigantine. Can’t beat it.

“And I’m not a gambler, so that’s a good thing,” he laughs.

He was with Atlanticare for four years. What was originally a part-time job quickly grew into a 55-hour-a-week gig.

“That wasn’t something I wanted,” he says. “But, I liked dealing with the doctors and nurses — I have that kind of personality. I like seeing people, and I enjoy talking to them.”

However, as he’s navigated these past few years without his wife, Jim has gotten a great amount of gratification watching his children grow.

“I was dating my wife since the eighth grade,” he says. “She was a cheerleader; I was a basketball player. Watching our kids grow, after everything they’ve been through, losing their mother at such a young age — she was only 41 at the time. For them to mature and become the people they are now, getting them through everything, has been a great thing to see.”

Jim’s kids are both teachers — his daughter in Manayunk and his son in Annapolis, Maryland. 

“He made me a grandfather for the first time. My granddaughter just turned one in March. We still have a great relationship — they love coming to visit me at the shore. And I like going to Philly to get some good food,” he laughs. “I go up there to get fat.”

Jim is the type of guy that oozes Philly. Simply having a discussion with him over the phone, somehow, without even broaching the subject, you can tell that the man loves Philly sports.

“I’m a huge sports fan,” he says. “I love all the Philly teams. I’m a big sports fan, and I like having a cold beer.”

His favorite sport is basketball.

“I was on two championship basketball teams in high school and played through four years of college,” he says. “I was inducted into two halls of fame. I’ll pack a cooler, go to a game, and  watch basketball for six hours. I still pick a ball up every now and then.”

With Lenny, it looks like we should start a company basketball team!

“I haven’t really sat down with Lenny yet,” he says. “I’ve heard his story and I’ve heard a lot about him. And I see the size of him. But I haven’t really had the chance to pick his brain. I will, though. We’re doing some bonding stuff coming up, so I’m sure we’ll find the time to have a beer.”

A member of the Elks’ Lodge in Brigantine, he says that he’s not really a music person, but admits to loving Frank Sinatra.

“I’m dating a girl now, and we go over to the lodge and listen to live music,” he says. “And dance. I love to dance, that’s for sure. I do love the oldies.”

Jim enjoys cooking, but he also enjoys a meal at a good restaurant. He and his friends frequently go to “Sunday Funday” at the deck at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

“I love the beach,” he says. “That’s what got me down here: love the beach, love the water, love the ocean. It’s still chilly in the winters in Brigantine, but it’s nice.”

Jim loves staying active.

“I love working out,” he says. “I run on the beach. Not as much lately, with COVID, but I used to belong to two gyms, but now it’s just the one. I try to get my workout in early in the morning.”

Jim admits that he’s not a craft beer guy, but wanted to check out the brewery, nonetheless. So, he brought a few friends down on Sunday.

“It was packed,” he says. “It was really crowded on Sunday, so we didn’t stay. But my goal is to get down there again when it’s a little less busy.”

October, Jim. Maybe November, considering how everyone has been chomping at the bit to get back to a normal life after this pandemic.

Jim applied here before the pandemic, and when the time came to pick up hiring again, he remained at the top of our minds.

“I’ve heard nothing but good things about Cape Beverage,” Jim says. “A friend of mine knows the owner’s wife, and he spoke so highly of them. I’ve spoken to a few of the drivers, so they knew who I was, and I peppered them with questions. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the company, how they treat you, how they’re so transparent in everything they do, and it’s all about the team effort.”

When he began working at Cape Beverage, he said that he was a little worried about the physicality — Jim is in his early 60s and kegs weigh… a lot.

“Now it’s nothing. I mean, I work out and lift and all of that — and now it’s the least of my worries. I’m a young 62. I’ll outwork any of these 30-year-old guys,” he laughs.

He says that he could have retired already, but he’s still in great shape and still wants to work.

“I still like working and dealing with customers,” he says. “I just really wanted to be a part of it.”

And that’s what he’s looking forward to in this position: interacting with people, customers and fellow drivers alike.

“I’d love to spend some time with the drivers on the side a bit,” he says. “I know some of the guys went out on Friday night together; I love to do that. I’ve got some friends on the island, but it’s always great to have more friends.”

And he’s making a few at Cape Beverage.

“Everybody sticks by each other,” he says. “Everybody gets along. Everybody can bust each other’s balls a little bit. In a good way. Everybody’s got each other’s backs. We help each other out. I’ve only been here a couple of months, but it’s such a team effort — from Justin, to Chris, to Craig — you can’t ask for a better team than them guys. It’s a pleasure working with them, it really is.”

He’s loving his time here so far.

“I look forward to every day,” he says. “Every day above the dirt is a good day.

“I enjoy what I do. I enjoy getting in, getting it done. My big thing is to build a rapport with our customers. I’m up in North Jersey every day, so they get a chance to see me and know me a little bit. With my sales background, anything I can do for them, be respectful to them, and build up a relationship with them. 

“I just want to represent Cape Beverage to the best of my ability.”

What more could we ask for?

If you see Jim out and about, slinging kegs, be sure to say hello!