Sarah Lister Opens New Voodoo Brewery Franchise in Cincinnati

With a background in both the criminal justice field and extensive experience working in bars and restaurants, Sarah Lister decided three years ago to fully commit to restaurant ownership. After discovering Voodoo Brewery, the fast-growing brewpub franchise, she knew she had found something special. Staying true to her roots, she felt passionate about providing a great restaurant and brewery experience to her Cincinnati community.

“I grew up in this community, so it's very exciting to provide great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere to the people here,” said Lister. “That was really important to me.”

Now, as Lister prepares for the grand opening of her first Voodoo Brewery location, she is filled with excitement and anticipation. The process, which began four years ago, has been a long journey but she is eager to see her hard work come to fruition.

“I really liked that the Voodoo team was so helpful throughout the entire process,” said Lister. “They were so understanding and willing to answer all of my questions. The amount of support I received was amazing, especially as a first-time business owner. The Voodoo team took their time with me. That was a lot different than a lot of the other brands I talked to.”

1851 spoke with Lister to learn more about her background, her journey to the brand and her 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?

Sarah Lister: I worked for most of my life in the restaurant industry. I also worked in the criminal justice field as a probation officer. About three years ago, I decided to commit to restaurant ownership myself. I came across Voodoo Brewery and ended up inquiring about other info from there, spoke to a couple people from the brand and was so comfortable with the interviews that I decided it was the brand for me.

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?

Lister: I really wanted the support of a franchise since this was my first time being a business owner. That was the main appeal.

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

Lister: I really liked that the Voodoo team was so helpful throughout the entire process. They were so understanding and willing to answer all of my questions. The amount of support I received was amazing, especially as a first-time business owner. The Voodoo team took their time with me. That was a lot different than a lot of the other brands I talked to. Also, I’ve been working in bars and restaurants for years, so I felt very comfortable with the Voodoo brand. I knew from experience how popular breweries were in the Cincinnati area.

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

Lister: Once this one gets up and running, we’d love to open a couple more in different locations. I grew up in this community, so it's very exciting to provide great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere to the people here. That was really important to me.

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

Lister: We are set up for the grand opening. I am very excited — it's been a long time coming! I started this process four years ago.

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

Sarah Lister: You’ve got to stick with it — it's not always easy, but it's worth it.

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.