Attaboys Comfort Cuisine Found Its Place in Downtown Marion

Chip Gregory
Apr 28
4 min read

Chef Chris Rennick opened Attaboys Comfort Cuisine in 2018 at 289 West Center Street, across from the Marion Palace Theatre, after identifying a gap in the local food scene. The restaurant serves Southern and soul food alongside Philadelphia staples, reflecting Rennick’s background and training.

I sat down with Rennick between the lunch rush and dinner service to talk about why he opened Attaboys and what he thought Marion was missing.

“There were not too many places… where you could get fried chicken and gumbo, shrimp and grits, and a Philly cheesesteak,” he said. “If I wanted them, other people would want them too.”

A Restaurant Built Around Downtown’s Past

Rennick said the idea for Attaboys took shape before the restaurant opened, starting with the name and direction. “We were trying to think of a 1920s theme like name,” he said. “The name Attaboy came up… and it sounded right.” He said he focused on a period when downtown Marion had more activity and used that as a reference point while planning the space.

“When I did my research… the 1920s… downtown was just happening,” he said.

The interior reflects that approach. Historical photos of Marion line the walls, including images tied to African American history in the city, according to The Marion Star. Rennick told the newspaper that customers sometimes recognize people in the photos.

“A lot of times I see guests… they’re like, ‘Hey, that’s my grandma,’” he said in the interview.

Background and Path to Opening

Rennick said his interest in food started early, cooking with family members, including his grandmother. “Growing up with my grandmother and my mom cooking in the kitchen, food was just always a passion for me,” he said.

He trained at the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh and later moved to Marion after meeting his child’s mother in college. She is from Marion, and he said they decided to return.

While working, Rennick started a catering business and used it to build a customer base and test his menu. “I just felt like I could do it on my own,” he said.

When he decided to open a restaurant, the building at 289 West Center Street had been vacant for years and required extensive work. “It was like birds and stuff flying all around,” he said.

Rennick and a group of friends spent about a year and a half cleaning out and renovating the space before opening in 2018, according to The Marion Star.

He said he did not leave his job until the day the restaurant opened. “It was a lot of fear,” he said. “I didn’t quit my job till the day we opened.”

Food and Menu

Attaboys’ menu reflects Rennick’s Philadelphia background, Southern family roots and the kind of food he said Marion was missing. “It’s definitely a southern comfort food,” he said. “I’m from Philadelphia and a lot of my family is from South Carolina.”

That combination shows up across the menu: Philly cheesesteaks, loaded baked potatoes, gumbo, chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, catfish and fried chicken.

Rennick said the food also fits Marion’s appetite. “I believe that Marion’s a meat potato town,” he said. “You got some good meat, some good potatoes… Marion’s going to love it.”

Some dishes come directly from family routines. Rennick said fried green tomatoes came from his aunt Pauline, while fried fish on Fridays and fried chicken on Sundays came from his grandmother.

“These are just things that I brought from my family and brought into the restaurant,” he said.

The Vibe, Start to Finish

“Southern Heart. Philly Soul.”

That’s how Rennick describes the space, and it carries through the dining room. Exposed brick walls, dark wood floors and deep red booths define the interior, with an open bar and a steady flow of conversation during service.

The room reflects both sides of the menu. Southern comfort on one end. Philadelphia influence on the other. The design follows the same direction, with industrial elements softened by warmer tones and lighting.

The layout supports both sides of the business. Bar traffic builds later in the day, while dinner service runs earlier, often with families and small groups. Seating stays consistent through the evening, with customers lingering longer than a typical quick-turn restaurant.

The setting, paired with the menu, positions Attaboys as a sit-down destination rather than a pass-through stop.

Downtown and Community

Rennick said the business has grown alongside changes in downtown Marion since the restaurant opened in 2018.

“At the beginning it was kind of scary,” he said. “Now it is definitely a community.”

He said businesses in the area work together on events and promotions. “We collaborate on almost everything,” he said, pointing to efforts like coordinated downtown events.

Attaboys sits across from the Marion Palace Theatre and sees increased traffic during show nights, along with regular customers from the area.

Rennick said he also sees customers coming from outside Marion.

“We’re really making Marion a destination,” he said. “People are coming from Toledo, Columbus.”

He said the growth of other businesses has changed the environment around the restaurant.

“More businesses are coming,” he said.

What Comes Next

Rennick said his focus remains on the current location and maintaining consistent output rather than expanding too quickly.

“I’m never satisfied,” he said. “I just feel like there’s always more.” He said the goal is to keep the restaurant operating at a high level day to day, with continued emphasis on food quality and service.

“Just keep building and building,” he said, adding that he plans to remain in the kitchen while continuing to grow the catering side of the business alongside regular service.