Mark Wahlberg surprises first car dealership customer, plans trip to Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) - One day after buying a Columbus-area car dealership, actor Mark Wahlberg said he is planning on traveling to Columbus and revealed plans to open a new restaurant.

Wahlberg shared the plans as he surprised his first customer at Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet off West Broad Street. He FaceTimed one-on-one with Terri O'Brien as she received her new Chevy. ABC 6/FOX 28 was there as she picked up her keys.

She thought she was picking up her 2015 Equinox and then going home. Instead, Wahlberg’s business partner, Jay Feldman, surprised her with a phone call from the actor.

"Isn't FaceTime awesome,” she told Wahlberg.

“It’s the best,” he told O’Brien. “My mother hates it though; she will only show this much of her face.”

O’ Brien responded, "I know, I don't blame her. Look at this, all of this,” as she pointed to her chin and neck.

“No, you look beautiful,” Wahlberg told her.

O'Brien said she didn't notice all the new signs in the building with Wahlberg’s name on it earlier this week. That was, until she was making her down payment check to the former owner, Bobby Layman.

"He (an employee) said, 'No, you're going to have to void that check and make it payable to,' and I said, 'The Mark Wahlberg?' Yes,” laughed O’Brien.

"We're going to be coming there soon, I can't wait to come there. We'll have to have you down for a visit,” Wahlberg told O’Brien and she responded, “I plan to be here, yes, I would like to meet you in person!”

The film star, who has also made a name in the restaurant industry with his burger chain Wahlburgers, said he is excited to be a part of the Midwest, "the heart of America."

"I do a lot of business in the Midwest and I love America, being in the heartland and being part of the community is a real, real, honor, so I’m excited,” said Wahlberg.

To make Wahlberg's entry to Columbus possible, he teamed up with Jay Feldman, who owns several car dealerships in Michigan.Wahlberg is the new owner of Bobby Layman Chevrolet on West Broad Street. It's now called Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet.

"We're really excited about Columbus, it's a great market,” said Feldman. “This is a beautiful store and a great location and we plan on making this the No. 1 Chevrolet dealership in Ohio."

Feldman got involved in the Wahlburgers restaurant chain in Cleveland. ABC 6 asked Wahlberg if he plans on opening a restaurant in Columbus.

"That's part of the plan, um, we got to figure that out. We're going to bring the truck there quite a bit for now, but until we find the right location, absolutely,” said Wahlberg.

Wahlberg said he plans to come to Ohio often.

“I'll be there soon. I'm planning my trip to promote 'Mile 22,' coming out in August,” the actor stated.

Wahlberg said he will be in Columbus for the official grand opening. No set date has been made because they have to work around his schedule, but it may be sometime in the next month.

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ABC 6/FOX 28 will continue to follow Wahlberg's entrepreneurial endeavours in Central Ohio.