Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream, a nostalgic and history-infused super-premium ice cream brand, is making a significant mark in the franchising world. With a unique blend of high-quality ice cream and a theme celebrating America’s founding history, the Utah-based company offers a “Disney dining” experience where every aspect, from flavor names to employee attire, transports customers back in time.
“Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream is 30 years in the making. It wasn’t just hatched overnight,” said Brian Brooker, CEO and founder of Brooker’s Founding Flavors. “A lot of franchise concepts are started for the purpose of franchising, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if I were a franchisee, I’d be attracted to something with more longevity that was started as a passion project.”
Brooker’s love for ice cream was ignited when he became the youngest through-hiker on the Appalachian Trail the summer after he graduated high school. “Every week, I’d hitchhike into town to resupply, and I’d hit these iconic New England ice cream parlors,” he said. “I loved it.”
Later in life, after a deployment to Iraq as a JAG attorney, he spent five years of his military service stationed as a U.S. Army captain on the Virginia Peninsula. This location, just down the road from the historic Jamestown settlement and Colonial Williamsburg, allowed Brooker to deepen his unique connection to and appreciation for America’s founding, which began as a kid growing up in Virginia, nearby to so many of the historic sites of America’s founding.
Over the years, Brooker honed his ice cream craft as a passion project, learning from industry legends like the inventor of cookies n’ cream and taking university courses with masters across the country. This dedication eventually led him to create Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream, a fusion of great ice cream and America’s founding history.
The brand opened its first store in 2018, followed by three more company-owned locations, withstanding even the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve refined our processes,” Brooker said. “We launched into franchising this past year, and we’ve already sold seven units in the first month — one single unit and two multi-development agreements, with more in the pipeline.”
When Brooker decided to expand into franchising, he knew he needed expert legal support. As an attorney himself, he recognized the importance of experience and legal specialization in franchising. That led him to Spadea Lignana.
“[Spadea Lignana] was recommended to me by my franchise consultant,” Brooker said. “Looking at the staff profiles on their website, I could tell that they were more seasoned and more experienced. That is why I chose them.”
Spadea Lignana’s franchising expertise proved invaluable as Brooker’s transitioned from a regional favorite to a brand with national franchise appeal. The firm has supported Brooker’s by preparing essential legal documentation and navigating complex agreements.
“They helped with the franchise agreement, the [Franchise Disclosure Document] (FDD), the multi-unit development agreement,” said Brooker. “It’s been great working with them. They are a niche franchising firm and, speaking as an attorney, no one is an expert at everything. You need to go to the firm and the practice for the specialty you need.”
Looking ahead, Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream is well-positioned to grow, continuing to bring its rich, immersive ice cream experience to communities across the country.
