Author: Kyle Tucker
Published: 12:13 PM EDT July 22, 2025
Warner Robins, Ga — One of Middle Georgia’s most beloved pizza restaurants has undergone a huge transition. My Father’s Place in Warner Robins has new owners for the first time in nearly a decade, as previous owner, Tim Lehenbauer, has decided to sell the business and pursue other interests. However, it seems Lehenbauer was purposeful in his intended choice of buyers, as he sold the pizza restaurant to two brothers with a combined experience of 17 years in restaurant industry, some of the years spent managing My Father’s Place itself.
New Owners
Jacob and Jonathan Kline, life-long residents of Warner Robins, brothers, fellow coaches, and now co-owners of My Father’s Place have taken over the reigns of the iconic pizza joint. Jacob, the older brother, has an extensive, restaurant filled resume. He worked as manager at My Father’s Place for five years, serving and learning under previous owner, Lehenbauer. He also worked some under the original MFP’s owner, Todd Sichelstiel. Jacob’s restaurant industry history also includes time as a manager at multiple Chick-fil-a franchises and Stevi B’s in the Macon area. Among being a new entrepreneur, he currently works in civil service at Robins Air Force Base.
Jonathan Kline brings experienced business acumen as well. Formerly he was an aircraft mechanic at RAFB and in his younger days, a Team Lead at Chick-fil-A. Jonathan, like his brother, holds down a day job, as he is currently an insurance agent with Georgia Farm Bureau.
The Pizza Dream
The Kline brothers are used to working in tandem. In addition to growing up together, in their present day spare time, they both coach boys basketball at Central Fellowship Christian Academy. Jacob is the Head Varsity Boys basketball coach and Jonathan is his assistant. Jonathan also head coaches the JV boys team. Whether it being on the basketball court, molding teenagers into athletes and young men, or in the MFP kitchen tossing and forming dough into pizza crust, for the Kline family, it was this symbiotic relationship between sports and pizza that likely helped form the beginnings of their journey to pizza eatery entrepreneurship.
Like many 90’s kids growing up in Warner Robins, Jacob and Jonathan and their parents frequented My Father’s Place. Through it’s nearly 40-year history, the restaurant has always been a family friendly place to come enjoy a great quality dinner for an affordable price. It wasn’t uncommon to be at MFP and see some local Little League baseball team or youth sports team enjoying their end of the season trophy parties at the popular pizza spot. It was one of these similar dining experiences for the Kline family when MFP original owner, Todd Sichelstiel, approached Jacob and Jonathan’s dad and offered to sell him the Warner Robins location. Sichelstiel was then looking to expand the business to Perry. As it turned out, their father declined the offer and the Perry location never panned out. However, a few decades and two transitions later, the Kline family has come full circle and taken not just a slice of the pizza pie business, but they own the whole thing.
“We…have been in Warner Robins long enough, that we don’t want to see this place close down.”
– Jacob Kline, My Father’s Place Owner
The Future of MFP
When asked what will change, Jacob joked, taking a playful jab at his former boss and owner-predecessor, Tim Lehenbauer, “We want to attract more business, so we’re getting rid of the Ohio State stuff.” Lehenbaur is originally from the Buckeye State. They hinted at some menu revisions, but when asked about MFP’s legendary sheet pizza, Jacob offered this slice of solace, “The sheet is not going anywhere. We might get run out of Warner Robins if we cancel that (menu) item.”
The Kline brothers also offered some local sentimentality, “We as owners, care about the community enough, and have been in Warner Robins long enough, that we don’t want to see this place close down….We want you to come here and have a good time with your family, have a good meal, and we want you to come back.” Plans for a grand re-opening, the Klines are aiming for mid-to-late August. So, for Jacob and Jonathan Kline, what was almost their father’s place, is now their place, but thankfully for Middle Georgia and for the foreseeable future, the longest-standing pizza spot in town will continue to be and taste like, My Father’s Place.
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