How John & Mandy Lindberg Turned a Long-Awaited Opening Into an Instant Community Favorite

The excitement surrounding a grand opening that has been months in the making carries a unique energy. For John and Mandy Lindberg, the owners of the new Pecan Jacks at the Commons at Lago Mar, Texas, this anticipation had been growing for a long time. Now that their doors have officially opened, the overwhelming community response has truly proven that the wait was worthwhile.

A Long Wait, Then a Whirlwind

Ask the Lindbergs how it feels to finally be open, and the word that comes up first is overwhelming, in the best possible way. “It seemed a little bit overwhelming right away,” they shared, “because there was just such a long wait. We could kind of sense this community, how there was just kind of a crunch, how people have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this store to get opened.”

Now that the wait is over, the pace hasn't exactly slowed down. “It's a lot of fun. It's kind of a whirlwind, but we feel that we're prepared and we're really excited for everybody to come in.”

The Neighborhood Has Noticed

If the first few weeks are any indication, Lago Mar has been waiting for this one. Mandy Lindberg described a town that's been talking nonstop since the doors opened: “Everybody's talking about it. Everybody's telling their neighbors. We had somebody tell them when they were at Walmart, and they said they had to come. They were super excited that we're finally open.”

The word of mouth has taken on a life of its own. “Neighbors are hopping in their golf carts and coming down, and then going back and getting their other neighbors and coming down,” Mandy said. “It's been a wonderful way to be part of the community.”

That enthusiasm shows up in the numbers, too. Even a few weeks in, repeat visits and referrals are already stacking up. “Even though we've only been open for a couple of weeks, people are like, ‘I've been here six times, and I've told so many people about you already.’ That is just music to our ears. We know that we're doing something right.”

With Lagoon Fest opening next door, the Lindbergs are already seeing steady traffic build, and they expect it to climb even further once that neighboring attraction is up and running.

From an Unlikely Background to a Family Business

The Lindbergs weren't originally looking at ice cream franchising at all. What changed their minds was the people. “I think the biggest thing was, it felt like family right away. When we met Tim and Ronnie, it really felt like a family concept, something we could wrap our arms around. That's kind of the way that we want to do our business as well.”

What sealed it was the level of support built into the model from day one. “We felt it was a franchise that had everything designed for you. They will train you, show you everything you need, give you all the tools you need, and be with you every step of the way. It isn't just, you signed up, great, best of luck to you.”

That support hasn't let up since. “Anytime that I need them, they're available, which is unbelievable considering all the people they have to help. They're heavily invested in the store. You can see that with their attention to detail. We're just kind of an extension of what they want to do, and it's a great feeling. They have the winning formula, and we're just being part of that winning formula.”

First-Time Franchisees, Backgrounds in Medicine and Culinary Training

This is the Lindbergs' first venture into franchise ownership, and between them they bring an unusual mix of experience to the counter: one an emergency room physician, the other trained in the culinary world. By their own admission, the road from signing to opening wasn't simple. “The process seems long, obviously, trying to find a property, trying to get the lease, trying to get the build-out, trying to do all the things. But we had Ronnie and Tim guiding us all the way, and you guys as well, just making it a lot easier. I'm a doctor. I don't know the first thing about business or opening a franchise.”

What kept them going was a belief in the product and its mission. “If I'm going to put my money and my time and my heart into something, it has to mean something. This is kind of how I feel with medicine, as an emergency room doctor. It may be the worst day of your life, but maybe I can make it just a little bit better. I wanted that same feel with our side venture.”

A Family Franchise, Not a Number in Line

Before landing on Pecan Jacks, the Lindbergs looked at other franchise concepts. What set this one apart was the sense of belonging. “This is a franchise, but it's also a family-run franchise. People are more likely to come down here than go to a big national chain where you're just a number. You actually know everybody's name. They're coming back, and we know what flavors they like. That is important to me.”

Already Planning What's Next

One store in, and the Lindbergs are already looking ahead. “We're just doing one at a time, we're not doing anything too crazy, but that really is the dream, to get one, two, three of these things going. Once the name brand is out here in the greater Houston area, the next ones we feel are going to succeed that much quicker and that much easier.”

Join the Pecan Jacks Family

From a first taste on vacation to a first day of ownership, the Pecan Jacks story keeps coming back to the same thing: people who fall for the brand, then build a business around sharing it with their community. The Lindbergs' launch in Lago Mar is the latest proof that when the product, the people, and the support system all line up, the community notices fast.

Watch the full interview with John and Mandy Lindberg here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1isr1X7NIiM