Why Wheaton? | Branching Out | Ep. 14 | with Eric Schlickman

In this episode Matt sat down with Eric Schlickman — architect-turned-restaurateur — to dive into his journey from designing buildings to building community through food, faith, and creativity. Eric shares how he launched 302 Wheaton(a burger concept turned local gathering spot), and how his values of family, work ethic, and faith have shaped every step of his entrepreneurial path.

We talk about:

• How his early life, architecture background, and networking prepared him for the leap into hospitality
• The story behind 302 Wheaton, converting old spaces into vibrant neighborhood hubs
• His vision for new ventures like Dough & The Backyard and upcoming projects in downtown Wheaton Fairhaven Wealth+4Shaw Local+4Glancer Magazine+4
• The role of community, design, and place-making in the restaurant business
• Lessons learned, challenges, and advice for aspiring creators and entrepreneurs

If you love stories about reinvention, local business, and the intersection of design + hospitality, you’re going to enjoy this one!