MARRs Cafe celebrates grand opening at UA Wayne College
The grand opening of MARRs Cafe inside the UA Wayne College Student Life Building was held Jan. 13, with Orrville Mayor Matt Plybon, left, and Orrville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dan Franks, right, holding the ribbon for owners Michael Middleton and Rachel Drake to cut.
UA Wayne College and the Orrville Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening of MARRs Cafe with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Jan. 13. Among the special guests were Orrville Mayor Matt Plybon, Chamber President and CEO Dan Franks, Membership and Marketing Director Landre McCloud and Dr. Heather Howley, director of regional campuses.
The new restaurant, located in the marketplace area of the Student Life Building, marks a partnership between the college and the husband-and-wife team behind MARRs Cafe, Michael Middleton and Rachel Drake.
The idea for the partnership began with a simple Facebook comment from a student, which sparked the possibility of a stand-alone restaurant inside the college. Inspired by the post, Middleton visited the campus the next morning and arranged a meeting with Amy Haynes, director of business operations and finance at UA Wayne College, the same day.
At the heart of MARRs Cafe is a simple mission: “healthy and affordable fresh food for all.”
Middleton and Drake believe meals don’t need to be expensive, and they strive to keep consumer costs low while maintaining high-quality offerings and reducing food waste.
The name MARRs holds significance, as it is an anagram of their family members: Michael, Aaliyah, Ryden and Rachel. Their entrepreneurial spirit has been a driving force behind the cafe. Drake has always dreamed of owning her own restaurant while Middleton has a passion for independent business ventures. Their division of roles is clear, with Middleton managing operations and Drake leading the culinary side.
“We very much know our roles and what we excel at and tend not to cross those lines. I run everything on the back end to keep the business running properly and efficiently while Rachel is the chef. She knows food inside and out and makes the magic happen. Personally, I cannot cook, so I am more than happy leaving that role to her,” Middleton said.
Transitioning from a catering business to running a full-service cafe presented challenges, but the couple has adapted quickly.
“Prior to this, we were solely a catering company, so coming in and starting a cafe has been a beast to tame all on its own. But I believe we’ve done pretty well and have overcome every hurdle. Luckily, we have an amazing team behind us in our staff and the support of the university as well,” Middleton said.
Among their most popular menu items is their signature cheesecake, available in over 30 flavors. They aim to introduce a different flavor daily so customers can sample them all.
While MARRs Cafe operates primarily as a campus eatery, the couple wants the community to know they are open to the public.
“We understand being located inside one of the buildings on campus is an unconventional location. Most people would think we only serve the students and the public isn’t allowed to come in the building, but they most definitely are. We encourage everyone to come in, try us out and learn about the university,” Middleton said.
Looking to the future, Middleton and Drake hope to deepen their relationship with the university and expand their offerings. Potential future plans include a dinner service and events such as bridal showcases and entrepreneurship seminars for aspiring business owners.
MARRs Cafe’s catering services can be booked by phone or text at 330-347-4525, via Facebook, or by email at marrscafe@gmail.com.
The cafe is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Customers can order online at marrscafe.square.site, and delivery is available through DoorDash.
“We think the community will be thrilled to have another option in the area that they can trust in. Also, businesses in the area now have a trusted local catering service right in town for any of their events,” Middleton said.