Conversations with Marcus Malone

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Malone. 

Hi Marcus, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ok, here we go. I have to set this story up by giving you a glimpse at how i ended up with this crazy delicious life changing burger truck. Like most of the folks that moved to Nashville in the nineties I came here by way of Chattanooga to pursue a career as a singer songwriter hoping to make a name and a living in the music business. I wasn’t in Nashvile long before the glamor and glitz faded and although I was still making headway as a singer songwriter and had accomplished several of my short term goals, (putting a band together, and being chosen to perform at the Sunday showcase at The Blue Bird) even with these small but significant hurdles under my belt I realized that in order to continue my dream I was going to have to get a job to pay the bills. After a brief stint as a jewelry store manager at Hickory Hollow Mall I realized the need to find something with a more flexible schedule and the only kind of work where I had a substantial amount of experience was the restaurant business. It was at this point in my life where divine intervention steps in, I saw a job listed in the Tennesseean for a dish washer at Browns Diner and if you were around at that time and knew anything about Nashville, Browns was THE place if you wanted an award winning inexpensive cheeseburger and fries, it also didn’t hurt that several prominent songwriters would hang out here regularly. I met Terry Young who was the daytime manager/bartender/ therapist/savant at Browns and he will never know how much he changed my life. I watched him as he masterfully communicated with these larger than life entertainers like John Prine, Nancy Griffith, Don Everly just to name a few, he made them feel like it was their place, a private hangout without the worries of being bothered or disturbed and seeing his mastery of this truly motivated me to think long term.

Jump now to 2014, I have been married now since 1999 my wife has a fantastic career in the retail business we own a home in East Nashville and I am still playing and writing songs but most important I still have the dream tucked away between my ears. Out of the blue two of my friends, one I played in a cover band with back in the 80’s the other was in my current band they had found a building in Columbia TN that had housed a restaurant called Lucille’s since the early 50’s and had been vacant for several years, and asked me if I wanted to partner up with them. They would handle the bar and I would be responsible for the restaurant side.

With the help of a little extra start up money from relatives it actually happened, Lucille’s was located in the heart of the city square and was immediately embraced by the community and quickly became the center of food and entertainment. Here is where it gets fun. The two “good” friends and partners turned out to be just the opposite and unfortunately our partnership came to an end forcing me to make some difficult decisions. I ended my partnership with them and took over the lease changing the name to 822 South and for the next 3 years became the most popular bar/music venue/restaurant in town. Sadly during this time my wife and I lost our home to a devastating fire and subsequently went through an emotional split after being together for nearly 25 years. I was all in, it was just me and I was past the point of return and then here came Covid.

COVID-19 was the final straw I closed the store took a management job for a stint but wanted to get back in the food business in some form or fashion and a food truck just seemed to be the perfect plan considering the temperament of the world at the time so my brother Scott my 83 year old mom a young lady by the name of Katie Rose who had worked for me as a manager in the restaurant and myself decided as a last resort that we would go into the food truck business. Well it was the best decision I have ever made, within a short amount of time we have won several awards for our burgers and onion rings and have worked a deal for a permanent location teaming up with Briarworks Pipe and Cigar Bar. We took over the alley next door calling it Loosewheels Alley. We have obtained a cult like existence so popular that most days we sell out ! I feel blessed to have come full circle and am a perfect example of “Never give up” stay focused and even through seemingly imply odds we all can make our dreams come true!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known as the singer-songwriter burger guy. We have never had a service where someone hasn’t said that it was the best they have ever had in their lives 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Meditation and Marlboro Lights keep me grounded with an even temperament. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/sogoodandloose/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sogoodandloose/

Image Credits
Mat us Malone