From Coast to Coast, One Brewery Stood Out: Why This Franchisee Is Bringing Voodoo Brewing Co. to College Station

After years of moving frequently due to her husband's roles in the U.S. Army and corporate America, Rona Bomkamp had the chance to explore breweries across the country. When she and her husband decided they wanted to go into business for themselves, opening a brewery seemed like a natural choice. Voodoo Brewing Co. stood out to the couple for its inviting atmosphere, delicious food and exceptional beer. 

The couple decided it was time to put down roots and bring a piece of what they loved about Voodoo Brewing Co.  to College Station, Texas. Now, as they prepare to open their own taproom, Bomkamp is excited to share that same experience with her new community, offering a place where families, friends and beer enthusiasts can gather and enjoy something truly special.

Bomkamp took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss her journey into franchising and her plans for the future. Here’s what she had to say:

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

Rona Bomkamp: My husband was in the Army when we were young, and we moved around a lot. And then he was with corporate America, and we moved around a lot. He decided he didn't want to go back to the corporate grind. I've always had a background in hospitality and customer service, so we were just kind of looking for something to do together that wasn't in a corporate environment that we could be in charge of and do ourselves.

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?

Bomkamp: My husband had a lot of experience with franchising before in his corporate job, but I didn't. I just knew a little bit via him. But I just think it's a great way to be an entrepreneur. You can be your own boss. It's an exciting opportunity. 

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

Bomkamp: We thought it was really unique. In our travels, we've always gravitated towards breweries. It's a great way to sit around as a family and enjoy it together. We have two adult children and two grandchildren. It’s a fun environment, easy to take kids and dogs to. We also love good beer — life is too short to drink bad beer.

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

Bomkamp: We're really excited about the opportunity for employment in the area. We're very excited to be part of the A&M community here in College Station. We hope to get very involved with the students and their traditions. There are a lot of traditions in the A&M community, so we hope to really build our brand around that and join in what they already have established.

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

Bomkamp: I think that we have a unique perspective, because we've lived all over the country. We were always hoping to get back to Texas. My husband was born in Texas, and all roads led to Texas once he decided to settle down after moving with corporate jobs and the Army. I think we have a unique perspective in that we’ve seen lots of breweries and have had lots of experience sitting in breweries all over the country and have thought about what we would want to do to make it our own. 

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

Bomkamp: I think be brave and go for it. It’s a difficult road, but it's also a very rewarding road to learn to do things that you haven't done prior in your job experience. So it's very rewarding to learn new things — especially as you are aging — and to be brave and try new things.

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 20 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/.