Our father taught us how to entertain. Our mother taught us how to feed people.
How It Started
LynnMarie and her brother Lenny grew up outside Cleveland, Ohio, in a home filled with Slovenian traditions, music, and family-run tavern vibes. As a Grammy-nominated musician, LynnMarie always paired her love of performing with cooking for her band and audiences. After her son James was born with Down syndrome and autism, she spent more time in the kitchen, perfecting recipes. Mornings with Lenny over coffee and pecan cake sparked the idea: “someday we should open a restaurant—Uncle Lenny’s.”
From Northern Roots to Southern Flavors
In 2017, LynnMarie reunited with musician Eddie Rodick III, and by May 2019, they, along with her son James, became a new family. A northern transplant, LynnMarie once recorded a humorous regional hit about northern life, but she fell for the South—its sweet tea, sayings, people, and food. Eddie embraced southern life too, keeping Slovenian roots alive in her kitchen, discovering BBQ and chicken & waffles, and blending music with a career in business and finance.
Lenny and Gail…
While LynnMarie pursued her career and raised James in Nashville, her brother Lenny faced life challenges, including a near-fatal motorcycle accident and addiction to prescription pills. With his wife Gail’s support, he found sobriety and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. Gail, eldest of six, learned to care for others early, later becoming a nurse at the renowned Cleveland Clinic, carrying her passion for helping people throughout life.
Why Fairview?
As James neared high school, LynnMarie and Eddie moved from Bellevue to Fairview in 2020, instantly feeling at home. Missing local restaurant variety sparked the conversation again: “We should open a restaurant and call it Uncle Lenny’s.” When Fairview Country Café closed in 2023, they, along with Lenny and Gail, made it a reality—creating a community space to share coffee, southern comfort, Slovenian traditions, and opportunities for people like James.
