Granny Gracie’s started as an idea in Atlanta, GA, in 2013. The founder, Regina Boyd Wells, worked as a teacher in an inner-city school and was searching for an inexpensive, unique treat for an end-of-school-year celebration. To create an unforgettable experience for her students, she considered a dessert that might be desired but not often enjoyed. She reflected upon her own childhood attending state fairs, festivals, and amusement parks and the excitement she felt - looking forward to devouring a funnel cake.

Regina’s earliest memory of funnel cakes was in elementary school while attending the state fair in her home state of Pennsylvania. According to William Woys Weaver’s account of food lore of the Pennsylvania Dutch, German settlers introduced an early recipe of the deep-fried treat, and it became a staple at the state fair and festivals, particularly the Kutztown Food Festival. Although the original recipe was offered by Emma Miller, her friends Grace Merkel Henninger and Stella Heinly helped to prepare it. After moving to Atlanta, Regina was elated to discover that she could carry on the tradition of partaking in a funnel cake at the local amusement park. However, she realized that this was not an experience that all children and families could enjoy. There were many obstacles, from the transportation to get to the park, ticket prices to enter, and finally the cost of affording food – aside from splurging on dessert. It was this recollection that convinced Regina that providing funnel cakes would be a special treat for her school event.

So, along with her son, Brandon, who served as the funnel cake master with no prior experience, the deep-fried treat was a fast favorite! By the end of the event, other students in the building, faculty, and staff were offering to purchase a funnel cake, and it quickly became a school fundraiser. The proceeds were used to help offset costs for the school prom and homecoming. Upon thinking about the day’s events, Regina and Brandon realized that this would be a great addition to their family’s special event business. After initially renting a funnel cake fryer, they purchased one for their business and catered kids’ birthday parties, school field days, and other outdoor events. After 10 years of planning to bring the idea to full scale, they finally realized that it was time to give everyone access to this “state fair favorite…all year long!”