Brewing Dreams in Texas: Couple Ventures Into Franchising with Voodoo Brewing

Jennifer Dartez, alongside her husband Jeremy, has ventured into franchising with Voodoo Brewing, and opened a location in Plano, Texas, on March 8, 2024.

After gaining experience in owning her own accounting practice, six years of experience as a travel agent and several years of being a stay-at-home mom, Dartez decided it was time to pursue a new dream. She and her husband always liked the idea of owning a brewery, but this wasn’t the initial path that Dartez set out on. Initially, she wanted to start a business from the ground up and that made owning a brewery very costly. She considered opening her own candy store instead, but quickly realized that there were so many aspects to business ownership that made the process very complicated. It was then that she started to consider franchising and realized how helpful it is to have the support of a franchisor.

Dartez and her husband came across Voodoo Brewing and their dream of owning a brewery suddenly seemed manageable. There really was only one concern for the couple before they could make their final decision: was the beer good enough?

“My husband's a beer enthusiast and he liked the beer and approved of all of it,” said Dartez. 

The brand also appealed to the couple because, unlike some other franchise concepts, they were able to customize a few features of their location, such as some menu items, to really make the place their own. Dartez is most excited, however, about building a sense of community at her Voodoo location.

“I hope to be like Cheers one day: ‘where everybody knows your name,’” she said. 

She is looking forward to finding ways to give back to the community through fundraising events and hopes to support charities that provide care for children with illnesses that require hospitalization and other worthy causes. With three children of her own, Dartez plans on making her Voodoo franchise a family-friendly, welcoming hangout for everyone.

1851 Franchise spoke with Dartez about her journey into franchising and her plans for the future.  

FEATURE 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?

Dartez: I have a degree in accounting. I worked at several different accounting firms and then I started having kids in 2009. I stayed home with them while doing a few other things on-and-off. I had my own accounting practice and worked at a public accounting firm for a little while, and then I was a travel agent for six years, specializing in Disney and Universal. 

In 2022, I decided I wanted to do something for myself. My kids are 14, 12 and 7 now, so it seemed like a good time.

I explored various avenues and was going to open something of my own, but soon realized there was so much involved in that process, so then I started looking into franchising. My husband and I had always talked about owning a brewery, so when we came across Voodoo, it seemed like the perfect fit.

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?

Dartez: In the beginning, I did not want to franchise. I didn’t want anyone telling me what to do. I thought of opening my own candy store, actually. Once I started down the path, I realized how many moving parts there were and how much money I would have to spend on a concept that has never been proven; it was scary.

People started asking me why I wasn’t looking into a franchise, and so I did. I'm definitely glad I went this route because I’ve learned so much. There's no way I could have figured all this out on my own. It would have taken me two-to-three times as long to try to figure all this out on my own; Voodoo has been very helpful in guiding me through everything. I like to think of it as a paint-by-number concept.

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

Dartez: My husband and I had always toyed with the idea of owning a brewery, but owning the whole brew kettle and everything is such an investment. When we came across Voodoo, we first joked about owning one, but then we realized it was actually perfect. We flew out to Pennsylvania and tried the beer and the food; it felt good.  

My husband's a beer enthusiast  and he liked the beer and approved of all of it. We have both been really enjoying the journey; I really enjoy working with him. It's been nice to have a different focus and conversation than talking about the kids all the time or the PTA event I'm volunteering for that week. It's been fun to have a different outlook on life right now.

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

Dartez: I want to help the community. Our middle daughter has food allergies and we've been in the hospital with her a couple of different times and we’ve learned a little about children with different sicknesses. I've seen a lot of kids in the ICU. We would love to give back to any of those kinds of organizations or charities. Once we are open, I’d like to start hosting different groups to do some fundraising for them. I want to create a sense of community.

I'm a member of two different chambers and they have been so supportive. I’d really like to give the people of my community a place to hang. I hope to be like Cheers one day: “where everybody knows your name.” I also want to make sure we are family friendly, as I do have three kids. 

As far as growth, I don't know if I'll necessarily do another Voodoo, but definitely want to take on another venture, possibly a franchise. A little ice cream shop or something similar would be fun. 

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

Dartez: I do have dyslexia and my daughter has dyslexia, as well. It makes me proud that we are doing this because both myself and my daughter had problems in school. I was told I had a learning disability growing up, and I am proud to have overcome that. My daughter’s in eighth grade and she’s struggled too, but it’s so great to know we are capable and able to do this. 

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

Dartez: It really is great. I originally worried it would be a little too cookie cutter. Voodoo really gives us a lot of leeway and they let us put our own touch on the menu. I'm getting to add some cuisine from south Louisiana, so we’ve put a little cajun flare on it. 

Overall, franchising was the right choice and the brand has been really helpful throughout the whole process.

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/