Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 12:51 PM EDT Jun 13, 2019
Monarch Gardens’ last day in business will be June 30.
The banquet and catering business is at 2311 W. Spencer St. in Grand Chute.
It has been a fixture in the Fox Cities for 55 years, with the last 25 years as Monarch Gardens and 30 years before that as Country Aire, a banquet business that opened in 1964.
Owners Nancy and Bill Kangas put the property up for sale for eight years ago, but were not able to find a buyer until this May.
“I will be 74 on Saturday. This is my fourth bout with cancer. I’ve been on chemo since February and it’s a little more tiring,” said Nancy Kangas. “With Bill and I both in our 70s — we’ve been here 25 years — it’s time to retire.”
She said it will feel odd after all these years to “not spend your Saturday nights partying with everyone or watching everyone party.”
The property’s buyer is listed in Department of Revenue public records as JRK Investment Enterprises LLC, and the purchase price was $645,000.
Kangas said the incoming buyer will not operate the facility as a banquet hall or restaurant, but rather use the property for storage or other purposes.
Kangas said banquets and events on the books through the month will go on as usual, including brat fries, a wedding, graduation and retirement parties and a catering job for Country USA.
Planners of future events beyond June were notified and deposits returned, she said, and those events have found different venues.
“Outstanding gift cards can be returned, and we’ll give them their money back,” Kangas said.
Christ the Rock held its annual Thanksgiving community dinner at Monarch Gardens. The event typically draws 1,000 or more people. The church is now looking for an alternate location.
Do you have a favorite memory from Monarch Gardens or Country Aire? Did you see a great band here decades ago? Attend an unforgettable party? Meet your future spouse here? Send your anecdote to me at mwallenfang@postcrescent.com.
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