Ask anyone who actually lives in New Jersey and they'll tell you the same thing: it's America's best-kept secret.
We've known that for a long time. When Austin and Lily first met, half their conversations happened over a beer or a coffee or a meal at some incredible local spot. They'd talk about the people who built these places, who had the vision, who took the leap. And how those decisions ended up creating something that became part of the fabric of an entire community.
Years later, two kids and a move to the suburbs in New Jersey, that curiosity never went away. It just got more specific.
The local businesses in New Jersey don't just serve food and coffee. They aren't simply selling something to you either. They create moments. And behind every one of them is a person with a story most people never get to hear.
Made on Main is our attempt to change that.
Every episode, we sit down with the owners, founders, and community figures behind the businesses and organizations that make life in New Jersey worth living. The real stories. The hard parts. The moments they almost quit and the moments they knew they were onto something.
Lily & Austin Belcak.
Lily grew up in Chatham and has been New Jersey's number one fan her entire life. These days she's raising her family in the same town she grew up in, which feels exactly right. During the day she leads customer success at a healthcare company. Outside of that, she's always looking for the perfect cup of coffee (with a great coffee shop vibe!) or trying the next new local restaurant.
Austin spent his early years in Morris Plains and Mountain Lakes before finding his way back to New Jersey after moving around the east coast. After his career at Microsoft, he became an entrepreneur helping 1.7M job seekers find amazing jobs. You'll find him tending his garden, growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, or ordering all-flats (buffalo wings) and an ice cold Kane Head High at any restaurant that will let him.
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