Franchisee Stories
As her 26-year-old son sets his sights on owning a Papa Murphy’s of his own, Amy Lepke has watched a simple return to work evolve into a stepping-stone for the next generation.
Amy Lepke wanted a way to get back into work while building something her whole family could be part of, which is what led her to consider owning a Papa Murphy’s franchise. After spending 14 years at home raising her children, she realized she was ready to return to a job she knew well. She had managed a Papa Murphy’s in her early 20s and remembered how much she enjoyed leading a team. So when the Mitchell, South Dakota, location came up for sale, she and her husband, Allen, decided to take the leap together.
“This opportunity came up, and I knew it was the right time to jump back in,” she said. It's been incredibly fulfilling, especially because all my kids have worked in the store with me.”
Amy and Allen purchased the existing store in October 2019, and it quickly became a true family operation. All of their children have worked at the restaurant in some capacity over the years — from washing dishes at age 12 to learning customer service at the front counter.
“At work, I was their boss, and at home, I was their mom,” she said. “I didn’t give them special treatment, but I taught them what it means to work hard and be part of a team.”
Her 26-year-old son now manages another Papa Murphy’s location in Sioux Falls and hopes to open his own franchise in the future. Her youngest plans to return to the business after college. For Amy and Allen, that involvement is part of what makes the business so meaningful.
“Being a franchisee has allowed me to create something that’s truly a family business,” Amy said. “I can talk to my kids about work and they understand. They’ve been in it with me, and now we share that experience.”
Because Amy had managed a Papa Murphy’s at age 24, stepping into ownership felt familiar — but she’s quick to point out that ownership requires more dedication than people might assume.
“For anyone looking from the outside in, it might seem easy — and it’s not,” she said. “It requires 100% of your time, effort and energy, especially at the beginning.”
What motivates her is the connection she has with people. The store gives her a platform to support her community, from day-to-day interactions with customers to larger initiatives like fundraisers.
Amy and Allen hope to continue expanding their business and deepening their ties to the community through partnerships with local breweries, schools and organizations.
“Long-term, my dream is to work alongside my sons as business partners,” Amy said. “They’ve all worked with me at different stages, and now that they’re older, I’d love to build something even bigger with them.”
Six years after taking over the Mitchell location, the Lepkes have turned their Papa Murphy’s into far more than a restaurant. It’s a place where Amy regained the fulfillment she’d been missing and where her family has built something lasting together.
For more information on families in franchising, check out these 1851 Franchise articles:
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