After spending 25 years in the staffing industry, Chris Ciulla decided it was time for a change. Honoring a long-standing promise to his wife, he returned to Florida to open his own business. He chose Voodoo Brewing Co. for its mix of flexibility and local focus, allowing him to create a brewpub that fits perfectly in the Valrico community. 

Ciulla’s new Voodoo Brewing Co. location will offer scratch-made food, craft beer and a unique Founders Club to give back to local charities. His goal is simple: to create a space where locals can enjoy great meals, connect with friends and feel part of something special.

1851 Franchise spoke to Ciulla about his franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he 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?

Chris Ciulla: I was an executive in the staffing business for 25 years. I was in Florida back in the 2000s and I made a promise to my wife that, after the kids were grown and off through college, we would come back. She called me out on that promise. So, we decided to come back to Florida. I resigned from my job as president of the staffing company and decided that I was going to open my own business. And we chose Voodoo Brewing Co. to work with.

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?

Ciulla: I had a pretty negative perception of it. I see a lot of franchisees come and go. I think a lot of them overpromise and underdeliver — I think a lot of them are very rigid. But I was really pleasantly surprised when I met the people from Voodoo, and they really stood out from the crowd from the rest of other franchises I was looking at.

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

Ciulla: The thing that excited me most was the flexibility that they had for us to operate their brand, but also make our own flair for our local markets so we could really appeal to our local demographic at a very local level. 

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

Ciulla: My hope is that we have a thriving, successful restaurant. We have a scratch kitchen with incredible food. We have a proper chef. Everything's made from scratch every day, including the french fries, including our dressings — everything is made on premise. My hope is that we have a lot of success together and that we continue to open up more restaurants in the area to serve our community. 

We shattered our goals for opening week thanks to the support of the executive team. Erik Ivey, our chief operating officer, rallied his team on-site to help us win, and he personally spent eight hours doing kitchen prep with executive Chef John while other team members supported our front-of-house team. With this level of support from the franchisor, I see a bright future for us in the community.

For me, it's not just to make money. I'm at the point in my life where I really want to start giving back to the community, which is why we created a Founders Club, which is going to be a charity fund that's run in tandem with our restaurant.

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

Ciulla: Never quit and never give up. I said someday I would write a book, and then I had an idea, and I did. I said someday I'd have a piece of a restaurant. Here I am today — I'm a restaurant owner. Dream big, but when you're dreaming big, just lay out a plan to get there. Write it down, put pen to paper and then research it. If you don't want to, then take it off your list. But if it's something you really want to do, find a way to get there and make it happen.  

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

Ciulla: You should really look at the fine print. I think you should really get to know the franchise executives and the team that's there because they're the thing that makes all the difference. And you should really have a passion for what you're doing and who you're working with, otherwise, it's just another job and it's just another corporation that you're working for. 

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/.