A good turn in Turin
MOVING IN A NEW DIRECTION WITH A FABULOUS FOOD PARK
Written by FRANCES KIDD | Photographed by SARA MOORE
Christina and Casey Allen opened their food trailer park in May 2023.
Named for Turin, a city in Italy, Coweta’s Turin had a growth spurt after the Civil War when construction began on a rail line running from Griffin to Carrollton. The 60-mile railroad connected Coweta and Carroll counties with the railroad’s main line in Griffin, serving as an important feeder line between communities.
However, like so many Southern towns of that era, good times did not continue for Turin. The bank closed in 1927. Then came the Depression and the boll weevil. Some agriculture continued, but the area was challenged by the economics of the times.
If you’re not paying attention, you might pass right by Turin, located along State Highway 16 between Newnan and Senoia. The train tracks are still there. The old post office was replaced by a new building in 1986, and a small Main Street, a few shops and homes – many of them historical structures – make up the rest of the town.
Until recently, Turin may have best been known for Barbie Beach, a roadside attraction created by residents Linda and Steve Quick to celebrate the 2006 Turin (Italy) Olympics.
As of Memorial Day 2023, it’s harder to miss Turin, especially in the evening. That was the day Christina and Casey Allen opened their Fabulous Food Trailer Park.
Americans have always liked eating from food trucks and Coweta is no different. From the chuck wagons of old out West to the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, food on the move has captured our imagination for decades.
The new gathering spot in Turin originated with Christina's vision of a place to draw local residents and visitors to congregate in Turin. Aided and abetted by her husband and their children, she opened the space with not only food trucks and entertainment but also a bar and Billy Mac’s General Store, another lingering dream Christina brought to reality.
Christina Allen fulfilled a life dream by opening a general store dedicated to her father.
Heart behind the park
No doubt about it, Christina Allen is the brains and heart – especially the heart – behind the Fabulous Food Trailer Park.
After 25 years in health care management, Christina was ready for something new. At first, she planned weddings and special events, but she had bigger ideas. She also wanted to open a store where people could shop for gifts, run in to pick up something special for dinner, or just sit around and visit.
On March 4, 2023, she opened Bobby Mac's General Store, named in honor of her late father who shared her dreams of owning a business. The only thing lacking from the old days of general stores is the pot-bellied stove.
Christina recalls the first time she saw the property while driving around Coweta with husband Casey: “He told me I’d lost my mind.”
But she had the vision to see what could be.
“It’s been difficult yet rewarding,” says Christina, who worked closely with the town of Turin and the county and state health departments to ensure that all was done correctly as directed by regulations.
Alan Starr, Turin’s mayor for about 14 years, first met Christina when she came to a town council meeting to pitch her idea.
“This has been a relatively quiet town for decades and most people like it that way,” says Starr. “Occasionally, a food truck would lease space but they didn’t last. Christina’s concept was different, and I loved it immediately. We have a good attorney and experience enough to get the contract and ordinance right to where most citizens are still happy with it all. I get the occasional call about noise when there’s live music some nights, but overall, all seem to enjoy the new flavor in Turin.”
Small town vibe
The Allens are respectful of the community that has welcomed them. They hold their vendors to high standards and interview each one who applies. They also take good care of the folks who are in
their trucks cooking.
“We don’t have two of the same types of food unless it's a great new thing and the usuals agree, or there’s a big event,” says Christina.
Though it’s open year-round, the park is calmer during the winter months. They have shorter hours because lots of the trucks take time off then. That slower time gives the Allens time to think of new things and make upgrades for the park. Changes to the bar and creation of a private event space are among recent new plans.
Christina says it’s important to her to keep the small-town feel.
“People meet and plan to come back together,” she says. “It’s like having a barbecue in your own backyard, but you don't have to clean your house.”
Along with getting families out together, the park helps small businesses grow their clientele, Christina adds.
The food park is a great place for families and groups who can’t come to a consensus on what to eat since everyone can pick their own food and sit together to enjoy it at one of the picnic tables or on the patio. And unless someone is taking a photo, mobile phones are rarely pulled out.
It’s also a spot where folks can play cornhole, Bingo and other games. Live music and special theme nights are also on the menu.
Plus, trains still sometimes pass through Turin. Since the park is literally on the other side of the tracks, Christina says that if the park is open, the trains will sometimes stop while the workers cross the road to grab lunch from the food trucks.
A new direction
Mayor Starr says the neighborhood teenagers definitely love the vibe and food and appreciate the music and people the new park brings to Turin.
“I believe it brings a certain youthfulness to a town that has been notoriously quiet,” says Starr. “I like that. And I like what it has enhanced in our area since a stand-alone restaurant is not plausible at the moment.”
Starr is proud that it’s not just a good place to eat and have a beer with families and kids; it’s also a safe place, and he insists it stays that way.
“Christina is first class, and I’m glad she took a chance in Turin,” the mayor adds.
With their children, from left, Tommy and Laynie, Katy and Nick Economou operate Big Daddy's food truck, a common sight at the Fabulous Food Trailer Park in Turin.
Taking cues from Christina
Christina inspired the launch of one of her park’s most popular food trucks.
Nick and Katy Economou, formerly of Senoia, found their perfect home in Turin – in a subdivision behind what eventually became home to the Fabulous Food Trailer Park. Nick has a culinary degree, and the couple had talked about buying a restaurant, although their initial plans didn’t work out.
After the couple visited and dined at the new park, they decided they were meant to have a food truck instead. Nick says the idea grew organically from that first visit to the food park.
Big Daddy’s opened last fall. While the Economous each kept their day jobs, they now enjoy dishing out grass-fed beef burgers and hand-cut fries along with other items on the Big Daddy's menu.
Theirs is a true family affair. Their two children, ages 11 and 14, work in the truck alongside their parents, helping run the cash register and put orders together.
“The town has welcomed us,” says Nick. “And the community has been very supportive. Christina’s a great lady, and we will be doing business for a very long time.”
Here comes Hollywood?
It’s possible the spotlight on Turin may shine even brighter. Early this year, producers from the Hallmark Channel came to Turin as they were putting together a pilot for a series on small towns. If all goes well, Coweta could be seeing Christina Allen and Turin on the screen.
During her conversation with the producers, Christina was asked, “Why a small town?”
She answered: “I will tell you that I’m very thankful for this small town because they are what has helped us grow. This small town is what keeps us alive.” NCM
