We had the good fortune of connecting with Linda Brackner and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Linda, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always wanted to open a healthy option restaurant of sorts. We were going to purchase a small building and open a juice,/coffee bar with outdoor music. When that deal fell through we had to have a new plan. It took us 2 years and in 2020 paid for all our licenses and a couple weeks later everything shut down.
I have always wanted to make a positive impact in the world. I was an idealist when I was younger. I used to think I could “save” it. I was a massage therapist with the reality that if I help make people feel better then they would go out with a more positive attitude and together we can make the changes needed to create improvements.
Our restaurant has brought our community together. It is heartwarming to see the new bonds being made.
We have a 4000 pound wood burning pizza oven and a full kitchen, coffees, homemade desserts including, craft beer and wine (next year we will have a full bar). We are all about good ingredients.
We have a 28×18’ stage for live performances.
We have been working on this for 3 years now. We wanted to make a big impact in our community so we picked the plaza that needed the most work.
Leave the world a better place…
We host “ giveback “ nights to help people feed people in our local community. We like to make a difference.
What should our readers know about your business?
Always had a dream to leave the world a better place. I have learned a lot in my life. Some lessons were easy, but most were a struggle. I was bullied a lot growing up and felt a lot of pain from “friends” and my family. I was always different. I overcame a lot of challenges.
I knew I wanted to help make changes to help others. I want to help diminish their pain and struggles. We want to change the “bottom line” to be more about people and less about money.
I am most proud of the Woman I am now. I have accomplished a lot, with the help of my husband, Ben Brackner and our daughter Basia Bodne. They helped me to realize things about myself that I had never known.
My husband and I went to a lot of local zoning meetings that our then local commissioner, Lisa Cupid, held. We learned what was needed in our local community. We penny pinched and saved for 10 years to be a part of the needed changes. We used to count out our tater tots and have had 1 old vehicle for many years. We live very simple and modest.
This has not been an easy task and there are still struggles, but we are proud of where we are now.
Like a song our good friend Donna Hopkins wrote and performs, “ We have everything money can’t buy”. We are blessed with the love and support that our close friends have given us. This restaurant is truly labors of love. They helped us overcome struggles and major challenges with their skills.
Together we can do greatness!!!
Don’t give up on your dream no matter how old you think you are.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely take them to our restaurant, The Green Room of Mableton. We have good food and live music. We would also go to Sweetwater Creek Park for some hiking.
It has been a while since we have gone anywhere else so I don’t really have a long answer.
Our friends at Grateful Bread, a non profit organization, through a great outdoor party every once in a while.
Give us a good camping, outdoor, sit by a nice bonfire event and we will go if possible.
We work about 80-90 hours a week so being home on the couch is also very enjoyable
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Ben Brackner Jeremy Boynton
Joe Cooper
Charles Humphrey
Corey Osborne
Carl Player
Matt Crawford
Lisa Crawford
James Maxwell
Grant Miller
Jeff Talley
Aaron Turner
Mauricio Zamora
Ralph Frank
Sunshine Arthur
Jason White
Jacob Brown
Ronnie Pippin of Trinity Farms
Tasha Pippin
Chris Haas
Rachel Chevon
Kelsey Leahy
Helme Calfe
Jeremiah Cook and his crew
Linzi Thompson And Cole
Instagram: thegreenroomofmableton
Facebook: thegreenroomofmableton
Other: Google The Green Room of Mableton
Image Credits
Jon Schlanger Tom Kettles