Voodoo Brewing Co. Opens First North Carolina Location in Sneads Ferry, Led by Local Veteran Couple
Sneads Ferry is welcoming an exciting new addition to its dining and craft beer scene as Voodoo Brewing Co. opens its doors this week—the brand’s first taproom in North Carolina. The new location, owned by longtime Onslow County residents Jonathan and Melissa Stamper, is set to bring a mix of craft beer, cocktails, comfort food, and authentic Detroit-style pizza to the community.
Both originally from Michigan, the Stampers moved to Onslow County in 2012 through the military. Jonathan served in the U.S. Marine Corps until his retirement in 2022, while Melissa now works in the dental industry in Jacksonville. After years of considering business opportunities, the couple decided to become franchise owners through VetFran, a program connecting veterans with franchise options nationwide.
Opening a taproom wasn’t originally their plan.
“You know what they always say—retire from the military and open a bar,” Jonathan joked. “That wasn’t the case. We went through a lot of ideas before we landed on Voodoo.”
Once they visited Voodoo Brewing Co.’s headquarters in Meadville, Pennsylvania, the decision became clear.
“The culture of Voodoo was the biggest thing for us,” Jonathan said. “It’s artistic, laid-back, and anti-corporate. They give franchise owners a lot of creative freedom with menu items and design.”
A Creative, Artistic Space on Old Folkstone Road
Located at 1016 Old Folkstone Road, the Sneads Ferry taproom embraces Voodoo’s signature eclectic aesthetic. The interior features repurposed doors suspended from the ceiling, tables crafted from wooden pallets, and colorful murals that give the space a lively and creative personality.
Jonathan describes the beer as top-tier.
“I’ve been to breweries all over the country, and I’d put ours up against any of them,” he said. Voodoo’s beverage offerings include craft beer brewed in Pennsylvania, small-batch cocktails designed by the company’s mixologists, and drinks made exclusively with natural ingredients.
Detroit-Style Pizza Comes to Sneads Ferry
While the menu features Voodoo classics such as burgers and wings, the Sneads Ferry location is introducing something special: authentic Detroit-style pizza.
Finding pizza reminiscent of their Michigan roots had always been difficult in Onslow County, Jonathan explained. His connection to the pizza style is deeply personal—he attended school with Shawn Randazzo, founder of Detroit Style Pizza Company, who passed away from brain cancer.
Jonathan reached out to Randazzo’s family to request permission to bring the original recipe to North Carolina.
“They were all about it,” he said. “So we have the original Detroit-style pizza recipe from Detroit Style Pizza Company.”
This makes the Sneads Ferry Voodoo Brewing Co. one of the few locations in the Carolinas offering authentic Detroit-style pies.
Locally Sourced Desserts and Community Partnerships
Desserts at the Sneads Ferry taproom come through a local partnership with Scoops Microcreamery, ensuring that sweets and after-meal treats have a local, small-batch touch. This collaboration is one example of the community-focused approach the Stampers hope to bring to their business.
Voodoo Brewing Co.’s slogan—“Craft beer without community is just beer”—resonates strongly with the Stampers.
“Being retired military and having lived here for so long, the community has really grown on us,” Jonathan said. “We love it here, and we want Voodoo to be a place where people can gather and enjoy good food and great beer.”
Grand Opening Scheduled for Saturday
Voodoo Brewing Co. Sneads Ferry will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., marking the official arrival of the franchise in North Carolina.
Jonathan hopes residents feel right at home.
“We want to give Sneads Ferry a place where they can gather, have great beer, enjoy a good meal, watch a game, and get something they can’t find anywhere else,” he said.
With its veteran ownership, artistic atmosphere, exclusive pizza recipe, and commitment to community, Voodoo Brewing Co. is poised to become one of Sneads Ferry’s newest local favorites.
About the Author
Written by J.L. Wells, a longtime Topsail Island resident and owner-operator of multiple local small businesses serving the Topsail Island area. With firsthand experience living and working on the island, J.L. Wells provides practical, locally grounded insight into Topsail Island’s towns, beaches, and year-round coastal living.