MANSFIELD — Ed Pickens can stand the heat. After all, the kitchen is where he’s spent the majority of his career.
But come March 31, he’s retiring after 46 years in the food service business.
The Mansfield native said he felt the timing was right.
“I’ll be 70 this year and I just figured it’s time that I take time for me,” he said.
He’s looking forward to the opportunity for he and his wife Deb to visit with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who live all over the country. Plus, there are some home projects he alluded to with his name on them.
He said he’s already received a couple job offers, with one in particular he’s considering.
“I got one in particular that if it’s still available and I decide that I’m ready to do something I’ll take it,” he said.
Ed Pickens’ Events & Catering will cater the United Way of Richland County annual dinner, the Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Ohio State Reformatory, among other events before closing its doors at the end of March.
Pickens said he’s actively searching for an operation to occupy the space at 28 N. Main St., whether that’s a restaurant or another catering company. “Right now we’re talking to both,” he said.
Pickens closed the cafe portion of his downtown operation (Cafe on Main) in December 2014 to focus on his catering services. He opened Cafe on Main in February 2008. He chose the Main Street location mainly for its capacity to accommodate banquets and events in the Kobacker Room, which he named.
Prior to that, he operated Park Avenue Express Cafe from 1992 to 2008 in the Barrington One Building. He started off where Barrington Deli is currently located then expanded into the lower level of the building where the MBA Entrepreneur’s Kitchen is located in order to increase his catering operation.
Also during his career, he helped establish Short Ribs BBQ Pit on Lexington Avenue, operated The Surrey Inn in Ashland, and managed a franchise restaurant known as Lum’s, formerly located on West Fourth Street. He also worked as banquets and catering general manager for Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant in Columbus.
He got his start in the food business in 1972 as a part-time cook at Shakey’s Pizza on West Fourth Street.
Born and raised in Mansfield, Pickens graduated from Clear Fork High School in 1967.
Going into the food business had its challenges and rewards, he said.
“One of my first big catering adventures was to be able to help with a dinner for President (Ronald) Reagan in 1983 for about 1,300 people,” he reflected. The event was held in collaboration with Ashland College (now University) for the first annual Ashbrook dinner.
His job afforded him the opportunity to meet several folks he wouldn’t have met otherwise, he said, including the owners of the Cleveland Indians and the Cleveland Cavaliers, a former Cleveland Browns coach and Lou Groza, a famous kicker for the Cleveland Browns.
He also got to spend time with Simon Majumdar, who’s appeared on Food Network shows, when Majumdar held a cooking demonstration at Cafe on Main in the summer of 2015.
The highlights of his career, he said, were working with and serving the customers.
“It’s been a privilege to serve them,” he said.
