Kona Ice Franchisee Expands His Family Legacy with Travelin' Tom's Coffee in Salem, Oregon

After years of success with Kona Ice, the shaved ice truck franchise, Justin Burk is taking his entrepreneurial journey in a new direction with Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck, the new coffee truck franchise started by the same founder, in Salem, Oregon. With a deep-rooted love for coffee and community, Burk’s experience in the beverage industry makes this new venture a natural fit. Alongside his family, Burk is excited to bring the joy of Travelin' Tom's to the Pacific Northwest, where coffee culture thrives. With a plan to match the success of his Kona trucks, Burk’s business continues to grow, making a lasting impact in his community.

1851 spoke with Burk to learn more about his story, his journey to franchising and his plans for the future. 

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

Justin Burk: I'm from Oregon and worked for a local coffee franchise before starting with Kona Ice. Initially, I thought I wanted to franchise with the coffee brand, but things changed. My dad started doing Kona in 2013, and that’s how I got my foot in the door. I didn’t officially start my own Kona until 2016. Once I got going, I left the coffee franchise behind and have been running Kona since. We now have three Kona trucks and a Kona kiosk. 

We recently heard about Kona Ice starting this coffee franchise, Travelin' Tom’s Coffee, and wanted to jump on board, especially given my background in coffee and the popularity of coffee in the Northwest. It just made sense for what we had going on with Kona, and it’s been great so far.

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?

Burk: Before franchising, I saw it as paying big royalties for a turnkey business. It wasn’t necessarily appealing because of the large royalty fees. However, once I learned how Kona does franchising differently — with a fixed royalty system — it became a lot more appealing. I didn’t have a negative view on franchising, but now I have a much more positive outlook because of my experience with Kona Ice and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee.

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

Burk: My dad got me into Kona Ice, but to be honest, when he first started, I thought he was a bit crazy starting a shaved ice business in Oregon, where it rains most of the year. I even thought it was a bit dorky at first. But when I saw the smiles on kids' faces and the excitement when they saw the Kona truck — especially at events like a T-ball game, it clicked for me. That’s when I started shifting away from the coffee franchise and toward Kona. What excites me about Kona and now Tom’s is the joy and positivity they bring to the community. Plus, the business model works — people invite us to events, we sell shaved ice or coffee and we give back a percentage of our sales. It’s a win-win for everyone.

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

Burk: Right now, we have three territories with Kona and three trucks, so we’d like to match that with Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee — three coffee trucks. We just started with Tom’s in August and we’re already turning away business because we’re booked, so we’re looking to get a second truck soon. Eventually, we’ll work up to three trucks, probably adding one every two years. We don’t plan to grow Kona beyond what we have now. Our focus is on matching the growth with Tom’s.

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

Burk: This has been a family business for a long time. My dad started it, I joined in 2016 and, the year after, my younger sister got involved in the same area. A couple of years ago, my other sister bought out my dad, so now my sisters and I all run Kona together. We’re all getting into Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, too — one sister has already started, and the other is joining soon. It’s been a fun family journey, and we get to bounce ideas off each other, which is pretty cool.

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

Burk: If you’re considering Kona or Tom’s, I’d say they’re great franchises — though I’m obviously biased! The fixed royalty system is a big selling point because, with most franchises, you’re constantly paying percentage-based royalties. I feel like most franchises are designed to make more money for the people at the top, but with Kona, Tony [Lamb] — the CEO — has created something special. It’s a lot easier to get in, and you can be successful without the burden of high royalty fees. For anyone looking into franchising in general, it’s important to really do your homework. Understand the FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) and what the rules and regulations are. Some franchises have a lot of restrictions, but with Kona and Tom’s, we’ve had the freedom to make it our own within the brand standards. It’s been a great experience for us, and I think it’s important to choose a franchise that allows you some flexibility.

Learn more about franchising with Travelin’ Tom’s at https://www.ownacoffeetruck.com/.

About Travelin’ Toms

Founded in 2020 by Tony Lamb, the visionary behind Kona Ice, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck delivers a unique, mobile beverage experience to events and gatherings of all sizes. Offering a wide range of freshly made, customizable beverages—including signature Nitro Cold Brew, Caramel Frappe, hot chocolates, energy drinks, and more—Travelin' Tom's caters to coffee lovers and non-coffee drinkers alike. With a commitment to quality and convenience, the franchise continues to grow rapidly, bringing caffeination inspiration and fruity refreshment to communities nationwide. For more information, visit www.travelintoms.com.

About Kona Ice

Founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice launched its first Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV) in Florence, Kentucky, offering a unique combination of cleanliness, friendliness, and a one-of-a-kind experience. Today, Kona Ice has grown to more than 1,700 mobile units that serve 49 states across the country. Kona Ice has been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 11 consecutive years, earning a spot on the Franchise 500 Hall of Fame, and most recently being named #1 in the “Frozen Desserts” and “Ice Cream” categories. In addition, Kona was named to the Franchise Business Review Top 200 list in the overall “Top 50” and “Enterprise” categories. Other accolades include being named a “Top 100 Most Innovative Franchise” by Franchise Business Review and a “Top Franchise for Veterans.” With a commitment to giving back, Kona Ice has donated over $185 million to communities nationwide. For more on Kona Ice, visit the brand’s online Newsroom and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news. For more information about booking Kona Ice for a fundraiser or event, visit www.kona-ice.com. To learn more about available franchise opportunities, visit www.ownakona.com or call (800) KONAICE.