Like most young entrepreneurs, Aaron Wicker started out with a dream. In the 1960′s he spent times in several large metropolitan areas. he saw the industrial catering trucks stopping at manufacturing and construction sites serving food and beverages to workers at break and lunch time.

After a stint in the Navy and working at other area businesses, in 1970 Wicker purchased a used catering truck starting selling food, coffee, and beverages to local businesses and events under the name ‘Meals on Wheels’. Starting out in the early 1970′s was slow, but Aaron and his wife Rose where able to build the business and grow out of their unheated garage to a rented kitchen on 3rd St in Wausau. Hiring two part time employees, the business took on more summertime events, leading to purchasing another catering truck and expanding from strictly industrial catering to providing catering for business meetings, company functions, and private parties.

Changing the name to ‘Wausau Mobile Catering’ in 1973, they moved again to a permament facility on Bellis Street that contained both a kitchen and garage for their growing fleet of catering trucks. At this time the company was finally able to focus on catering private functions and events.

After several years, the business grew to five catering trucks and as many as 20 employees. It was then that ‘Wausau Mobile Catering’ dropped the Mobile out of their name and just became ‘Wausau Catering, Inc.’ As the business grew, the Wicker children became involved: daughters Debbie and Corrie and son Chris.

As the business grew, so did the competition. Fewer places where allowing food catered in and more and more facilities were providing their own food. By 1993, seeing a need for a permanent  facility, Aaron and Rose built their current, state of the art, banquet facility on 131 W Thomas St in Wausau. The first event, held May 28th 1994, marked a return of Corrie and Chris to the business, opening of one of the largest commercial kitchens in Wausau, and one final name change to ‘The Rose Garden Banquet and Catering.’

The Rose Garden established a very good reputation as more events weere being held in their banquet center. Word spread throughout the area that the facility, food, and service was second to none. Special attention was paid to every detail and it showed in the growth of the banquet business.

Despite increasing competition in the banquet market The Rose Garden continued to grow and their outside catering service received a boost as the trend toward outside events increased. With their mix of catering trucks and years of experience, plus state of the art facility, The Rose Garden was able to capitalize on the growing catering market and was awarded the title of Small Business of the Year in 2003 by the Wausau Regional Chamber of Commerce.

With the second generation taking over the helm of business, The Rose Garden continues to this day to upgrade their facility with new lighting and decoration, plus landscaping and opening their new outdoor garden in 2011 for weddings and outdoor events. Their focus is still on customer service, attention to detail, and high quality food.