Museum PR Announcements News and Information

Cincinnati Museum Center name Service Systems Associates as retail provider at Union Terminal

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) announced that Service Systems Associates (SSA) will manage its updated food service, catering and retail operations at Union Terminal.

The restoration of Union Terminal provided an opportunity to update food service and retail operations to be more convenient and guest-centric. Those plans include dining service in the restored Losantiville Dining Room off the Rotunda, providing a quiet, convenient space for guests to enjoy a wide variety of hearty and healthy meals and snacks. SSA will also operate the Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor, located in the historic Rookwood Tea Room, a favorite treat for guests after a day of exploration and memories made.

“SSA has a reputation of demonstrated excellence at locations both here in our own community and across the nation,” says Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “We’re looking forward to having SSA in Union Terminal because we know the impact they will have on our guests’ experience will ensure their visit is exceptional in every way.”

The addition of a café on the lower level near the Duke Energy Children’s Museum and special exhibition galleries will serve as another convenient dining option for Union Terminal’s youngest guests as they recharge before another romp through the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science and Cincinnati History Museum. Catering service for private events will also be facilitated by SSA.

“SSA is honored to be Union Terminal’s partner for culinary and retail operations. Union Terminal and Cincinnati Museum Center are community icons with a rich heritage of providing a world-class cultural experience, and that legacy continues with this new partnership,” says Eric Loyall, chief operating officer for SSA. “We are proud to offer guests innovative and appealing food choices featuring fresh, local ingredients and unique healthy options for families.”

SSA has a history with Union Terminal, providing food service and catering operations since 2014. The addition of retail operations is new for their partnership at Union Terminal, but not for SSA, who oversee retail operations at locations across the country.

“The retail shops will feature a wide range of merchandise and experiences including interactive play, STEM products that stimulate fun while learning, locally-sourced artisan gifts and jewelry and items for the whole family that let our guests take home a piece of the Cincinnati Museum Center experience,” Loyall says.

In addition to Union Terminal, SSA manages food and/or retail operations at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Louisville Zoo, Denver Zoo, Los Angeles Zoo, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Center for Civil and Human Rights, Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor, National Geographic Encounter Ocean Odyssey and many more.

SSA will begin managing food service immediately with a coffee and prepared meal-to-go cart outside the Duke Energy Children’s Museum. They will assume full operations when the restoration of Union Terminal is complete in November.

For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org