By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
After a successful first year running the Hotel Lakeside Dining Room last summer, Eric Foltz is venturing into two more businesses in the community.
Foltz’s popular Cold Creek Catering is expanding to Lakeside year-round, and he’s taking over Poolside at 521 East Sixth Street, right across from the Grindley Aquatic & Wellness Campus. Foltz also runs seven other businesses outside Lakeside.
“People always ask me how I do it,” Foltz said. “I usually build a good staff and monitor their activities daily. I end up at almost every place almost every day. It’s a lot of traveling, but that’s just part of the job.”
Foltz’s catering menu has something for any occasion. He has a three-ring binder full of options, including boxed lunches and buffets for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cookouts and brunch.
“We have already got quite a few events lined up for the summer, and they just keep coming, Foltz said. “It’s going to be good. I want people to know that if they have a need for catering, just get a hold of us and we’ll take care of it for you.”
Poolside will be similar to Cravin’s, a walk-up ice cream and foodstand Foltz owns in New London, Ohio. The menu will have Philly cheesesteaks with a chicken option, burgers, hot dogs, wraps, shredded chicken, pulled pork, barbecued beef, sloppy joes and chicken tenders. There will be many appetizers, including fries, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, breaded mushrooms, broccoli and cheese bites, and macaroni cheese wedges.
Lakesiders will have the option to eat on the pet-friendly patio, in the dining room or get it to-go to eat at their cottage, the pool or have a picnic at one of the parks. Lakesiders can order inside or at the walk-up window.
Foltz is also adding bar stools at the counter to have lunch, dinner or a sweet treat. He’s installing a soft-serve ice cream machine for several different flavors of milkshakes and flurries. There will also be smoothies, mocktails and ice cream cups with a biscuit for dogs.
“I went through the Cravin’s menu and selected some of my best-selling sandwiches,” Foltz said. “It’s very kid-friendly, and families will love it. With all the menu options, we’re hoping to draw people from all over Lakeside, not just the pool.”
Foltz opened the Hotel Lakeside Dining Room on Mother’s Day for brunch and afternoon tea and for the season on May 13. It will remain open through Lakeside’s Summer Splash Family Weekend, Sept. 5-7.
“I wasn’t really looking for any more work,” Foltz said. “We’ve got a lot going on. If I didn’t like Lakeside, I wouldn’t be doing extra. I think it’s a really great place.”
