Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Bodne Brackner.
Linda Bodne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Linda Bodne Brackner, but most people call me Turtle. My family and I have always wanted a restaurant in our community with healthy foods. We were going to open a small coffee shop/juice bar with an outdoor stage. Well, that fell through so we needed a new plan. We found the new location at Hilltop Plaza in Mableton, about 1 mile from our home. We chose Hilltop Plaza because of its history and the big impact it makes in our community. We love to hear all the different stories of its history. Leonard Skynard played here in the 1970s. People came to see Rocky Horror Picture show amongst other classics. It took us over two years to complete the buildout. In 2020 we paid all our fees to the county and never had a chance to open.
I have always wanted to make a positive impact in the world. Our restaurant has brought a lot of our community together. It is heartwarming to see all the new connections being made.
We have a 4000-pound wood-burning pizza oven from Florence, Italy. We have a full kitchen where we make all the dough (for pizzas, sandwiches, calzones and croutons), sauces, salad dressing, ice creams and desserts. We use as local, organic ingredients as possible. We offer a large variety of craft beers, ciders and artisan wines. We have a 28×18-foot stage for live performances.
Our 4800-square-foot restaurant is used to host private events, benefits, “giveback” nights and live performances. We offer our stage to local schools to perform.
We started the buildout in 2018. We paid all our fees and never had an opportunity to open until March 6, 2021. We had to pay all our county fees again. We were never refunded any of the monies and did not qualify for any relief from our government from our unemployment.
Every day is a learning experience. You always have to think of the “new”. This has not been easy, but it is worth it. We have met so many wonderful friends that we may not have met if not for The Green Room.
I love the personal feel of the bands and other live performances that come here. I do wish we could pack the house more, but I think it will come as the new subdivisions are occupied. I love seeing everyone socializing, dancing and getting on stage to perform.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have learned a lot in my life. Some lessons were easy, but most were a struggle. I overcame a lot of challenges. This made me compassionate towards others and gave me a strong desire to help people whenever I can.
At 56 years of age, I am proud of the woman I have become. With the help of my husband, Ben Brackner, and our daughter, Basia Bodne, I have accomplished a lot. They help me realize things about myself I never knew before.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Green Room of Mableton. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My husband and I attended a lot of our local zoning meetings with our then-district commissioner, Lisa Cupid. We learned what our community needed. We penny-pinched and saved for a lot of years to achieve our dream. We lived simple and modest lives. This has not been an easy task and there are still struggles, but we are proud of where we are now. We are blessed with the love and support of some of our close friends have given us.
This restaurant is truly labors of love. We have so many friends to thank. They helped us overcome some major challenges with their skills.
We have a great staff. I get to work with my husband, Ben, our daughter, Basia and our extended family Nate Gibson and Isabella (Izzy) Arnold. We have friends we can count on if we need extra staff for bigger events…Linzi Thompson, Travis Gamelin, Lisa Tate and Tyler Borgeson. We also have friends we met at the restaurant that volunteer when we need even more help for even bigger shows…Lea and Dale Garvey.
The Green Room has food and drink for every budget. We price accordingly and try not to have many price increases with the continued price increases from our distributors and landlords.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson is that:
Together we can do greatness. Don’t give up on your dream no matter how old you are!!!!
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