Love Notes to Lager: Voodoo Brewing Franchisee Couple Achieve Their Entrepreneurial Dreams

Before venturing into the world of franchising with Voodoo Brewing in September of 2023, the Hammakers of Boise, Idaho, found themselves drawn to the allure of business ownership. Megan Hammaker, a dedicated stay-at-home mom at the time, had long dreamt of owning her own hair salon. Her husband Garrett, a seasoned professional in the equipment rental industry, had aspirations of running his own Wienerschnitzel restaurant. Over the years, the couple's dreams of business ownership evolved into a shared dream of owning their own pub with Voodoo Brewing. 

About nine years ago, the pair’s paths crossed serendipitously as they lived across the street from each other. When Megan spotted Garrett, she thought he was cute and decided to take action.

“She left a note on my truck, and then I had to find out who she was,” said Garrett. 

That simple note left on a windshield led to Garrett and Megan getting married, raising three children, and running a successful business side-by-side. Their partnership is proof that, with the right companion by your side, you can accomplish your dreams while still finding joy in the effort required along the way.

“Working with your partner is more fun than people think,” said Megan.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Hammakers about their journey into franchising and their plans for the future.

PROFILE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Megan: I was a stay-at-home before and Garrett still has his full time job. We chose franchising because we had never had a business or restaurant before. The guidance provided by the brand has been really helpful in getting our pub off the ground.

Garrett: The franchise route gave us the resources we needed to get started. I work for an equipment rental company and I’ve been doing that for almost 15 years, and now I am working in the pub a few nights a week, as well.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Megan: It’s different than I expected. I always thought of big corporations like McDonald’s, but we’ve had a lot of freedom to make our own decisions. 

Garrett: I never really had a perception of it before we considered doing it ourselves. I didn’t know what to expect going in. It’s not as corporate or controlled as I would have thought. Our location is unique and each franchisee’s location is different. 

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Garrett: We picked it because it is a new concept. We wanted a restaurant but we wanted to bring something new to this area that our community would enjoy. I had never heard of a brewery franchise concept before, and it is such a great idea. 

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Megan: We hope to have a successful business. We don’t plan on opening another location but we are open to other business ideas in the future.

1851: How did you meet and what was it that convinced you that this partnership was the one?

Garrett: She left a note on my truck, and then I had to find out who she was. 

Megan: We were actually neighbors and lived across the street from each other. I saw him and thought he was cute, and then he found out it was me who left the note.

Garrett: Here we are almost 9 years later and we live just a few miles away from where we first met.

Megan: Now we have three kids: a 13-year-old, a 7-year-old and an almost-3-year-old.  

Garrett: Hopefully we can train them up as employees eventually; the sooner the better!

1851: Some people say working with family can be difficult. How do you feel about working together?

Megan: I love it. Working with your partner is more fun than people think.

Garrett: It’s great working together! I let her make all the decisions and do what I’m told. Megan can do it all and she does do it all. I think her strength is that she has seen this process from the ground up and she knows every single detail about the whole operation. It definitely wouldn’t be the same without her. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Megan: We took a risk, and I’m glad we did. I had always wanted to have my own business; I thought about opening a hair salon before I met Garrett.

Garrett: I always wanted to open a Wienerschnitzel restaurant and franchise it, but we never did and now somebody else in Boise is building two of them. So I lost out on that dream, but found a new one. We talked about running our own business for a long time and never did anything about it until we finally decided to jump in with both feet with Voodoo. It definitely helped that we were both on board with this brand because we have been there to reassure each other.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Megan: Read the contracts carefully; make sure you have a lawyer read it and protect yourself.

Garrett: If you have zero experience with business ownership, a franchise model works really well because there is a lot of coaching available and it’s broken down into a step-by-step process. It would be difficult to figure it out on your own.

ABOUT VOODOO BREWING CO.

More than just a brewery, Voodoo Brewing Co. is a community of passionate beer lovers dedicated to pushing the boundaries of craft beer. Alongside world-renowned “liquid gold,” provided directly from the brewery, local owners offer killer food, craft cocktails and hard seltzer in their community-focused brewpubs. Each location has a customized logo, locally inspired menu and consistent local events, allowing Voodoo Brewing Co. franchise partners to become truly immersed in their communities. With 18 locations across multiple states, Voodoo Brewing Co. has already captured the hearts of beer enthusiasts nationwide and has proven itself as the fastest-growing brewpub franchise in the world. Now, it is on track to quickly grow roots across the nation. For more information, visit https://voodoofranchising.com/