1851

<div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">When Brewer Stouffer launched <a href="http://theromancandle.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=madison-mainstay-the-roman-candle-using-the-f-word-to-grow-into-new-markets-4504" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Roman Candle</a>&nbsp;in 2005, he had one vision: to create a place where Madison, Wisconsin residents could come to eat, drink and enjoy themselves. But beyond a good time, The Roman Candle stood for a lot more&#8212;farm-fresh ingredients, quality sourcing and real Wisconsin cheese, all stitched together with a thoughtful, handmade approach. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">As soon as its doors opened, The Roman Candle was buzzing with guests hungry for something more than just homogenous, cookie-cutter pizza chains. Now, more than ten years later, the brand has five locations throughout Wisconsin, and each one is as local and community-friendly as the original that started it all.  </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">But even as The Roman Candle expands, the heart of the brand remains unchanged. Each restaurant upholds the brand&#8217;s commitment to the community by sourcing from local farmers, brewers, cheese makers, and industry purveyors. As such, the menu at each location reflects the tastes of the neighborhood. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">With the success of each iteration of his beloved brand, Stouffer increasingly heard requests from visitors and loyalists that they would like to open their own Roman Candle in their neighborhoods and hometowns , The seed was planted for Stouffer that expanding in Wisconsin and beyond could actually work. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;It didn&#8217;t take long for me to realize that we had built something truly special here, and over the past few years, the question that&#8217;s been running through my mind is: How do we share <a href="https://theromancandle.1851franchise.com/index.php?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=madison-mainstay-the-roman-candle-using-the-f-word-to-grow-into-new-markets-4504" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Roman Candle</a> with people in other neighborhoods?&#8221; said Stouffer. &#8220;After much consideration, we realized that having a local owner on the ground to build the business and create partnerships with local organizations and schools is the best way to grow outside of Madison.&#8221;</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">Deciding to franchise&#8212;or saying the &#8220;F-word,&#8221; as Stouffer calls it&#8212;didn&#8217;t come easily at first. To Stouffer, providing a one-of-a-kind craft experience to cities across the U.S. is a natural next step&#8212;but it has to be done on his terms. He built the brand with an unwavering commitment to providing an option that didn&#8217;t just taste good, but did actual good in the local community. He stands firm that any franchise locations will stay that same course.</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;I&#8217;m a passionate guy, and particularly so when it comes to The Roman Candle. I don&#8217;t plan on signing on franchisees looking to make a quick buck,&#8221; Stouffer said. &#8220;We&#8217;re in this to be profitable, but in the right way.  We will be involved in every single step along the way and will provide franchisees with a streamlined path and a proven business model. The beauty of franchising is that it allows passionate operators to become business owners and to inject our brand with that quintessential local flavor that defines The Roman Candle.&#8221;</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">It&#8217;s nearly impossible to speak to Stouffer without catching his enthusiasm&#8212;it&#8217;s infections. And that&#8217;s exactly what he&#8217;s looking for in franchisees&#8212;men and women who are passionate, even obsessive about the food they eat, the food they serve and the communities they live in. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">Franchising was once uncharted territory for The Roman Candle, but just as with every other aspect of the business, Stouffer and his team are dedicated to doing it right. That means taking their time to grow, and focusing on franchisees that fit the culture they&#8217;ve worked so hard to create. The initial investment to open a The Roman Candle location is between $478,000 and $852,000. The Roman Candle hopes to have upwards of five new franchise locations sold by the end of 2016. </span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">&#8220;The reason I was initially apprehensive about franchising is the exact same reason it will work,&#8221; Stouffer said. &#8220;People rebel against a corporate chain store &#8216;soullessness,&#8217; but since The Roman Candle is so focused on embracing local, we feel confident that new markets will embrace us. Franchising wasn&#8217;t something I decided to do overnight. I did some serious soul-searching over the past few years, and based on the incredible reception we have received in Wisconsin, I know that this will work. I refuse to let this brand that I have worked so hard to build to be diluted as we expand into new markets.&#8221;</span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style=""><br /></span></div><div id="pastingspan1"><span style="">For more information about franchising with The Roman Candle, please click <a href="https://theromancandle.1851franchise.com/index.php?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=madison-mainstay-the-roman-candle-using-the-f-word-to-grow-into-new-markets-4504" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>

1851 Franchise

Brewer Stouffer, the founder of The Roman Candle, promises to grow craft pizza brand with integrity through franchising

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Madison Mainstay, The Roman Candle, Using the "F Word" to Grow Into New Markets

madison-mainstay-the-roman-candle-using-the-f-word-to-grow-into-new-markets

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Madison Mainstay, The Roman Candle, Using the "F Word" to Grow Into New Markets

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS