Justin Wilfon, after 22 years in broadcast TV, has opted to focus on two new businesses: a public relations firm and a new restaurant in Marietta.
Wilfon, whose final day on WSB-TV was Feb. 26, joined the ABC affiliate in August 2016 and split time as a reporter and weekend anchor.
Even early in his career, he didn’t think he would do TV news his entire career, figuring he’d switch it up in his 40s.
“For me, it was never so much about where I thought the business was heading,” the 44-year-old Marietta resident told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week. “It was more about wanting and craving new challenges.”
Two years ago, he began thinking about opening a restaurant. He came up with the concept, called Marietta Melt Yard, which is a blend of a food truck, a carnival and a beer garden in a spacious 6,800 square feet about 1.6 miles west of Marietta Square. There are 36 feet of garage doors in the front that can open to the outside and a vintage 1968 GMC Handi Van converted into a bar for $25,000.
Last year, while working on a story for Channel 2 Action News about “The Walking Dead” set being torn down in Senoia, he learned the show was chucking the corrugated fending used to protect a neighborhood fictionally known on the show as Alexandria. He later negotiated to purchase some of the fencing, which now is on two long walls in the restaurant.
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Marietta Melt Yard opened in December. Wilfon couldn’t mention his involvement publicly until he was out of the door at WSB.
“We thought Marietta was missing a fun, family-friendly place,” he said.
He held his WSB-TV going away party in the party room, which includes four pinball machines.
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
So far, he said business has been solid Thursday through Sunday evenings. They only recently began offering lunch and he said they are still trying to build a consistent crowd then.
The food is a blend of food truck staples like melts, burgers, taco and wings.
The co creator and manager partner handling day to day operations is Marietta native Matt DeBusschere, who worked for many years at Sun in My Belly in Kirkwood. The primary financier is Tulsa businessman and structural engineer Elli Johannsson. The space they took over used to be Marc Taft’s Chicken and the Egg, which closed in 2019.
“I just loved restaurants since I was kid,” Wilfon said. “I designed them in my head. My mom took us out all the time.”
Credit: CONTR
Credit: CONTR
He has also opened a new PR firm with his wife Laura, a freelance reporter at Fox 5, called Wilfon Media.
“We want to focus on modern day PR,” he said. “These days, it’s largely social media. We can coach businesses on how to utilize their social media to their advantage.” One of his first clients, he said, is Cobb County’s Johnny Walker Realty.
He and Laura, married eight years, have two young daughters. “I get to spend more quality time with my family,” he said. “I’ve gotten to see my kids play soccer. I’ve taken walks up to Marietta Square. It’s been an adjustment but for the most part, it’s been great.”
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho2ja
Credit: RODNEY HO/rho2ja
IF YOU GO
Marietta Melt Yard, 800 Whitlock Ave NW, Marietta, Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight, Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday, closed
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