Marilyn’s offers a new option for area dining

Life is a journey.

You start off thinking you have a clear destination in mind.

What you encounter along the way in terms of obstacles, opportunities and people who become your traveling companions and friends, guides you in different directions and to new destinations.

Marilyn Frank began her catering business in her brother’s former pizzeria on Hwy 13. Her goal at the time was to focus on smaller sized groups of 50 or less.

Soon word spread of Marilyn’s great food and excellent service and her business outgrew the space.

open to the general public on a regular basis, first once a week with a limited menu. Then adding special nights and bringing in bands and events. Growing to become an important anchor in the city of Medford downtown and providing the fuel and spark for a rebirth in the downtown area and the social life of the entire community

So she made the move to downtown and rented out part of the former fire hall on Whelen Ave. from Clarence and Marge Kropp. Seeing an opportunity she expanded to take the entire former fire hall space using the large bay as an event space. Seeing a need, and a chance to allow potential catering customers an opportunity to try her food she began being While the renovation included the gutting of the former service station building its industrial feel was retained by salvaging exhaust hoods (above) and floor drain piping into unique fans and lighting for the space.

At Marilyn’s Fire Station she grew an energetic and loyal clientele, creating a place for them to gather, connect and enjoy themselves.

Dale and Anne Baumann of Medford were regulars at Marilyn’s and like many of her regulars became friends. They saw the potential Marilyn could bring to any location.

Dale was recently retired after selling the injection molding company he built from the ground up. Not one to want to sit still, he was looking for a project to get behind.

By chance, Medford Cooperative had decided to close their former downtown service station located across the street from the old city hall building. Dale saw potential in the building. Where other people saw a run-down garage with dated and faded office space in the upstairs, he had a vision of what it could become.

An idea was formed where Dale would purchase and renovate the building for Marilyn to move into and operate as a full service restaurant. When renovations began in earnest in the summer of 2021 it was with the hope of having it open by the following summer.

As with any project, there were delays and unforeseen hiccups. Through it all, they persevered.

In May 2023, Marilyn’s opened in the completely renovated building on Whelen Ave. in downtown Medford. In the weeks since first opening the doors, Marilyn and her staff have been working on refining operations and making sure everything was running smoothly.

“We wanted to get the menu dialed in,” Marilyn said.

The new restaurant offers a menu of elevated pub style food as well as crowd favorites prepared by Chef Luis Arellano and Chef Ingrid Ryan and their kitchen staff. “It is pretty amazing to have two trained chefs in one restaurant,” Marilyn said.

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Those coming for lunch or dinner will find traditional items like burgers and seafood items alongside a variety of featured dishes such as beef stroganoff made with locally grown mushrooms from Rue de Bungaloo Farm or a distinctive shepherd’s pie that is enough for even the largest appetite.

Marilyn explains that the menu will continue to evolve with standard items as well as chefs specials each month designed around what farmers have to offer during the season.

“We are farm to fork friends and are building in more and more farmer options,” Marilyn said, noting they strive to get a lot of items from area farms.

Equally as impressive as the food, is the space in the dining room area. In modernizing and adding amenities, they retained the industrial feel of the building. “We wanted to keep the look of the old Co-op building and update it to make it warm, friendly and inviting,” she explained.

The spacious dining room flows into a large bar area on the south side of the main floor. Windows let in ample amounts of daylight while two large garage-style doors open onto a paved patio area expanding the seating and providing additional space for people to mingle, enjoy one another’s company and as an entertainment venue.

In addition to the main floor, the building’s second floor includes a rental space area for groups up to about 100 people. It can be accessed by stairs or with an elevator from the main dining room. It includes its own bar and offers impressive views of the downtown, Riverwalk and park area.

Marilyn said one of the challenges in moving into the new location was with the growth needed to make it happen. Where previously she had 8-9 employees, they have 25 employees in the new restaurant.

The “soft opening” process has allowed her staff to grow into their positions. Each week tweaking and improving based on the experience of the week before. “I want to make sure everyone is properly trained so customers can have their best experience,” she said.

Marilyn looks back on the journey that has led to the opening of the new restaurant. “The fire station was an amazing start,” she said, noting that it was very successful.

She explained that long-time customers from the Fire Station will see different things in the new restaurant. “Changing traditions is always hard,” she said. However she said the new restaurant offers an amazing opportunity to building new traditions.

She said the goal is to occupy that space between bar food and a supper club. “We want to offer the supper club meal without the supper club feel,” she said.

Marilyn hopes to make the new restaurant into a destination for people coming to Medford from outside the area. She noted the amount of amenities that have grown in the Medford area in recent years and the event schedule that offers plenty of options.

“You come here for a weekend and you will find something to do,” she said.

As for the future, Marilyn said she is excited to see where the journey continues to lead her and the community as a whole.

“I know what this place can be for our community,” she said.

She noted that Marilyn’s is just one part of an increasingly vibrant downtown community. “Everything is going to help everybody,” she said calling out amazing downtown businesses including the coffee shop, brewery and new shops adding to what has been here. “There is so much good going on,” she said.

Marilyn's offers a pub-style atmosphere with a spacious dining room and a menu that includes traditional favorites as well as special creations from the chefs. Marilyn's is currently open Tuesday through Friday with kitchen hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Marilyn Frank

Marilyn’s located on Whelen Ave. in downtown Medford offers a destination for fine dining without having to travel far. The menu features elevated pub dining with a mixture of favorites and dishes prepared by the two on-site chefs. The spacious bar area, which opens onto an outdoor seating and patio space provides ample opportunity for socializing and expertly-prepared drinks and cocktails.