Voodoo Brewing Co. coming to Canton at former Crave location
A Voodoo Brewery has been proposed for the former site of Crave Hot Dogs at 5800 Sheldon Road in Canton.
Plans are in the works to launch Michigan’s first Voodoo Brewing Co. franchise at 5800 Sheldon in Canton — the former location of Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ.
Voodoo Brewing Co. is a rapidly-growing brand that has expanded to 20 franchises throughout the United States beginning in 2013.
The owner of the Canton property, Jason Turner, recently submitted a Temporary Outdoor Dining Permit Application to Canton Township.
Inspirational backstory
The Voodoo Brewing Co. brand has a compelling backstory.
In 2009, master brewer Curt Rachocki was privately brewing craft beers and looking for opportunities to sell his product, while his brother Matteo helped him explore the business end of things from New York, Voodoo’s website explains.
In 2011, Curt Rachocki informed Matteo about Voodoo Brewery, a local Meadville, PA brewery. The brothers, along with friends and family as investors, buy it.
According to the website, they worked 16-hour days, 7 days a week, to make it their own.
Persistence pays off
In 2012, after withdrawing their last $76 from the bank to use as change for the cash register, Matteo, Curt, and the rest of the crew opened the first Voodoo Brewery pub in Meadville.
One year later, U.S. Army veteran Jake Voelker returned to civilian life and envisioned Voodoo Brewery as the perfect opportunity to invest in something he loves: making great craft beer. Voelker joined the Voodoo team full-time and currently is the President of its brewpub franchise group.
“After (several) smash-hit pub openings, including their first pub franchise location in Cleveland, OH, Voodoo Brewing Co. decided it was ready to take its badass brewpub franchise concept to cities across America,” the website shared.
In addition to the Canton franchise, Voodoo is opening a location in Royal Oak.
Opening day?
A company spokesperson told SocialHouseNews.com that the metro-Detroit locations are at least a few months from opening.
The background of the brand’s name is a mystery to all but the original group of founders.
“What we will say is that we’re a band of brothers (and sisters, and brothers-from-another-mother) united by a common, glorious purpose: to bring our bold, innovative world-class craft beers and eclectic, locally-curated pub food menu to fans everywhere,” the Voodoo website reveals.
Great beer and food
Voodoo prides itself on brewing top-shelf craft beers and offering a vast menu that ranges from bowls to wings to burgers.
“Not your typical bar food,” Voodoo owners explained on their website. “We pride ourselves on cultivating an easy-to-execute, locally-sourced brewpub menu that combines classic pub favorites with new creative ingredients.”
SocialHouseNews.com will provide updates on the Canton location’s opening once details are available.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
