Why This Military Veteran Chose to Franchise With Voodoo Brewing Co.

After 22 years of active duty in the Marine Corps, Todd Pinkler was ready to start his next chapter. While browsing through job opportunities on LinkedIn and Indeed, he came across Voodoo Brewing Co., the high-energy, less than traditional brewpub franchise. Liking what he saw, and ready to pursue entrepreneurship after years of service, he sent the information to his business partner and his wife to get their input. He then inquired with the brand. 

With its unique beer names and labels, its delicious pub food offerings and its streamlined business model, Voodoo Brewing Co. was a perfect match for Pinkler. The franchisee and his partners signed on to bring three Voodoo Brewing Co. locations to the coastal South Carolina market, starting with a location on Broadway at the Beach. 

1851 Franchise spoke to Pinkler about his franchise journey with Voodoo Brewing Co. and 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?

Pinkler: I was in the military, 22 years active duty Marine Corps. I just retired in December. My last deployment was in 2022 and I was getting ready to retire and try to figure out my next chapter of my life. While on deployment, I was on Indeed and LinkedIn, looking at some jobs out there, and I stumbled across Voodoo Brewing Co. I started inquiring about the brand and doing some research. I sent the information to my good friend Chris, who’s my business partner, as well as my wife Erica, to see what they thought about it, and they liked the idea. I returned back from deployment in September of 2022 and I started picking up more steam with Voodoo. We had more calls with RainTree [a franchise growth company], went through the interview process, eventually went to approval day and we really liked what we saw. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee?

Pinkler: I really didn't know too much about it except that you buy into a brand, pay a royalty and they help you out throughout the process. 

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

Pinkler: I’m excited to be my own boss, especially after coming from the military and taking orders from everybody else. Entrepreneurship really excited me. We really didn't look at many other franchises because we fell in love with Voodoo right off the bat. We loved the whole concept of low overhead with minimal employees, and the beer was fantastic. The logos are very unique and eclectic, so are the beer names. We really fell in love on approval day. 

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

Pinkler: We did buy a three pack. So eventually we'll be opening up three within the South Carolina coastal region. Voodoo is definitely community oriented and family oriented, as well. So we'd like to try to expand upon that, whether it's having different community events on site or being able to support other community events outside of the restaurants. Coming from the military, veteran support is near and dear to my heart, so I definitely like to help out in any way I can. Whether that’s through sponsorships or even just discounts — anything that we can do to help out great veterans.

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

Pinkler: We have unique backgrounds and I believe we can pull our experiences and our expertise together so that we can make these breweries thrive in the South Carolina Market. 

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

Pinkler: Do your homework and make sure you not only ask the franchisor a lot of questions, but also reach out to other franchisees that are currently open and ask them everything from the good, the bad and the ugly. Find out what's working and what's not. Ask them every question you possibly can. 

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/.