America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and marketing company bringing attention to local, independently-owned restaurants, has continued to experience exponential growth in the two years since inception.
With the addition of a third wrapped Mercedes Sprinter van to travel to locations such as the west coast, America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) has hired three new show hosts to be the face of the company in front of the camera.
Brad Johansen, former WKRC news & sports anchor and longtime radio & TV voice of the Cincinnati Bengals, takes his 22-time Emmy-Award-winning experience to ABR by joining the crew as a part-time Roadshow host.
“I’m thrilled to join the ABR team already changing the restaurant business landscape as the ‘gold standard’ across the country,” says Johansen. “I can’t wait to tell the food stories to make your mouth water! Let’s eat!!”
Jacalyn Mains, a mom of two from Independence Kentucky signed on as a Roadshow host in May. She has a huge passion for small business owners, especially those that are female owned.
“What is so rewarding is getting to meet the people behind the small business, giving them an avenue to tell their story, and connecting with them in a short period of time,” Mains says. “And of course I love getting to experience the fruits of labor of the amazing talent in the kitchen!”
Originally from south Jersey, new host Theo Williams has an extensive background in sports announcing, including stints with Villanova men’s and women’s basketball teams and the Harlem Globetrotters. He moved to Mobile Alabama in 2021 after accepting a position as ‘Host of The Gulf Coast’ for CW (WFNA) and an entertainment reporter for WKRG News 5 in Mobile.
Noting that the job involves intense travel and that eating in moderation is a bit of a challenge, Williams is excited at meeting restaurateurs across the country.
“I get to share people’s stories and allow the viewers at home to see these restaurants as more than just a business,” Williams says. “[They can] rather see it as someone’s home, who is inviting all of America to come visit.”
America’s Best Restaurants’ Roadshow began in July 2021, showcasing independent restaurants in short segments that aired on social media platforms. In just two short years the Roadshow has highlighted 900 restaurants in twenty-two states, and has a target of hitting all fifty states in the near future.
“[The new hosts] allow us to expand our vision of telling the stories of independent restaurants across the United States,” says CEO Matt Plapp. “We aim to be nationwide by January 2024.”
America’s Best Restaurants, a national media and restaurant marketing company based in Florence, KY, travels the country telling the stories and highlighting the unique food of locally owned independent restaurants as part of their ABR Roadshow. Restaurants are featured not only on ABR’s Restaurant Network of social media channels and website, but also each individual establishment’s Facebook page. With over 900 episodes filmed, America’s Best Restaurants is the premier marketing agency for restaurant owners and operators to have their story broadcast coast-to-coast. Visit AmericasBestRestaurants.com to learn more and to view the episodes and profiles of hundreds of America’s Best Restaurants!
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