What began as a dream for Centerburg local, Maddie Himes, has officially become Rosie’s Rest Stop, a smoothie and sandwich shop located right off the Heart of Ohio Trail in Centerburg. During a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, Maddie, or “Rosie” to her family, expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped make her dream into a reality. She also mentioned her excitement to join the businesses of downtown Centerburg saying, “I’m honored to bring clean eating to the heart of Ohio.” So, if you’re planning a trip on the trail or just spending the day in Centerburg, be sure to stop by Rosie’s Rest Stop at 108 North Hartford Avenue.

Sticking to their mission of promoting clean eating, Rosie’s offers a variety of sandwiches and salads made with fresh ingredients and locally sourced bread and honey from Cheryl’s Bees and Bakes. Be sure to try the chicken salad sandwich, a staff favorite, and pair it with a signature smoothie. You can build your own with up to three fruits and two mix ins or choose from a list of staff picks if you’re having trouble deciding. Rosie’s is also very bike friendly with a picnic table, chairs and bike rack just out front and a bathroom available inside. If you’re looking for something lighter that you can take to-go, the shop sells plenty of trail-friendly snacks like protein bars, beef jerky and trail mix. 

Looking to stay in town a little longer and make it an afternoon? Rosie’s is located just a few blocks away from Centerburg’s historic downtown. More Space at Your Place is a great first stop for cyclists coming off the trail since it has bathrooms, a water fountain and a dedicated “rest area” for riders. Here you can also buy merchandise to commemorate your ride along the Ohio To Erie Trail; including the merchandise for the Kokosing Gap Trail, the Ohio to Erie Trail and the Heart of Ohio Trail. More Space offers souvenirs of all sizes ranging from stickers to posters and everything in between. Don’t have the extra space? No worries, Katie, owner of More Space, can ship merchandise to your home. Before heading out, be sure to check out the two additional rooms that feature all kinds of eclectic goods from local vendors like candles, soaps, jewelry and so much more.  

If you’re needing a little pick-me-up or just want to catch a break, Centerburg offers two great coffee shops right in the heart of downtown. Both Kolacheez Coffee Bar and The Burg Café offer a wide variety of coffee, teas and pastries. With their sizeable lunch menu, The Burg is a great option if you’re looking to sit down and fuel up for a few more hours of exploring. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, visit Kolacheez Coffee Bar and try one of their freshly baked texas-kolaches. Once you feel rested and refreshed, be sure to stop by the Rusty Redhead before heading out of town. This antique store features so many unique vintage pieces from a variety of local vendors. Even if you’re heading back out on the trail, this is still such a fun place to browse and revisit on your next trip to Centerburg.

Whether you’ve lived in Knox County your entire life or are just passing through, there’s so much to see and do in the Heart of Ohio!

More Centerburg Stops…

• Before you hit the trail, fuel up at Half Baked Bistro for the hearty and delicious breakfast menu. Dedicated to celebrating and elevating Caribbean & European inspired cuisine, you have to try their busicuits and gravy or their egg + cheese arepa. Did we mention their baked goods? We recommend the handmade monster cookies or ginormous creampuffs.

• All day long, swing through the drive-thru at The Center Scoop; their royal burger (double patties, crowned with all the fixings) is a Centerburg staple, their cones are creative and who doesn’t love a milkshake on a hot summer day!?

• After a full day of travel on the trail, park your bikes on Main Street and stop into Long Branch Pizza for some dinner. The variety of appetizers, salads and sides will provide a great starter for the main course of fresh, hand-tossed pizzas. We love the “Hattie” specialty pizza; pepperoni, hot honey and chili flakes…YUM!

• Don’t forget to pack your clubs! Centerburg is home to the Wyandot Golf Course and Table Rock Golf Course. Not to mention, if you tee-it up you can stop into Build-A-Brew BBQ for an outstanding BBQ lunch platter.

Article By

Faith West, KCCVB Marketing Intern