Selby Gardens partners with Michael's on East

In less than a year in her position, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens CEO Jennifer Rominiecki has overseen more than $270,000 in improvements to the historical property. Now the 15-acre attraction is on the verge of an evolution that will end with a premier event space on some of the most beautiful land in the city.

That's according to Phil Mancini, who as co-owner of Michael's on East has just signed a partnership for exclusive catering and food service with Selby. The iconic restaurant will take over Selby House Café Dec. 1, and double its catering business with the popular wedding venue following a major overhaul of Selby's Great Room.

"We want to put more of an upscale café over there that could evolve into a pop-up restaurant, and remodel (the Great Room) it to make it a state-of-the-art waterfront banquet space," Mancini said.

The café has already been remodeled, said Selby Marketing and Communications Director Mischa Kirby, but the botanical gardens will next summer expand the Great Room to add room for up to 400 guests and triple its outdoor seating area to 2,400 square feet. An awning over the patio area will create a new entertaining space.

“Thanks to Michael’s, Selby Gardens will be able to offer the best food and best service to everyone who visits, from day trippers to wedding parties,” Rominiecki said in a press release. “This is just the beginning of many opportunities we see.”

Mancini, who said Michael's has been catering at Selby for a quarter of a century, has been trying to work out a deal with the organization for more than 10 years.

"To be very honest," Mancini said. "At this stage in my career the only expansion I was ever interested in is one at Selby Gardens."