Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Kingwood Center Gardens have entered into a new partnership to provide garden guests with foodservice and catering. Buehler’s will be operating the Gateway Café located inside the new visitor center, the Garden Gateway at Kingwood, which opens to the public in July.
“We cannot begin to describe how excited we are to partner with Kingwood Center Gardens. With the addition of the new visitor center, they will be able to offer guests an even greater experience,” said Mike Merritt, VP of foodservice at Buehler’s Fresh Foods. “The values and vision of Kingwood Center Gardens align with our company, and we believe this is going to be a great partnership as well as a first-class addition to the community.”
Kingwood Director Chuck Gleaves agrees. “Our ongoing efforts to increase the depth and diversity of experiences Kingwood has to offer its visitors will be taking a giant leap forward with the engagement of Buehler’s to offer food and beverages for our events and in the Gateway Café of our new Garden Gateway Visitor Center, which opens to the public July 12,” Gleaves said.
Garden visitors may have spotted Ferris, Buehler’s Food Truck, at Kingwood events in 2019. Beginning in April, Ferris will continue to serve a variety of menu options to garden event goers. Buehler’s also will provide catering for weddings and special events at Kingwood Center Gardens.
Buehler’s Fresh Foods grocery store was founded in 1929 by E.L. Buehler and his wife, Helen. The family moved the business in 1932 to Wooster, and, after four generations, grew to 13 stores serving the northeast Ohio market. In 2017, Buehler’s became an ESOP (employee stock ownership program).
Kingwood Center Gardens is a garden estate on 47 acres in Mansfield, Ohio, that once was the home of the innovative industrialist Charles Kelley King. Kingwood is renowned for its distinctive floral displays, unique plant specimens, woodland trails, historic mansion and gardens, display greenhouse, duck pond and peacocks. Signature events like Wine Walk, the Great Pumpkin Glow and Christmas at Kingwood provide support for this non-profit organization.
