A new French bistro is preparing to open on a downtown Wooster restaurant block, with a series of soft openings planned over the next few weeks. The Wooster Marquette, a 30-seat spot at 127 W. Liberty St., plans to hold soft openings before a formal grand opening and ribbon-cutting.
The restaurant is the latest venture from co-owners Rachel Drake and Mike Middleton, who according to Your Ohio News are both nervous and excited to open the doors on their first full downtown restaurant. The pair have received support from the Wooster community ahead of the launch, the outlet reports, and they say the small footprint is intentional. Middleton has said the smaller dining room is meant to give guests undivided attention and a calm atmosphere, according to the same report.
The menu leans into French tradition with dishes like the Marquette escargot, smoked salmon croissant, and cider-brined pork chops, alongside American comfort items such as cream cheese-stuffed french toast. Reporting from April 2026 by What Now Columbus previously detailed planned offerings including crepes, croque madame, and steak au poivre, with co-owner Rachel Drake describing a concept meant to be elevated yet family-friendly. Middleton has said the menu blends traditional French cuisine with classic American options, per Your Ohio News, and the restaurant plans to publish upcoming dates, hours, and its full menu on Facebook. Reservations can also be made by phone.
A Wayne County Culinary Path
Drake is a native of the area who attended school in Wayne County and graduated from the culinary arts program at the Wayne County Schools Career Center, the same report notes. Drake developed a passion for cooking as a young girl cooking alongside her aunt before attending culinary arts school, according to Your Ohio News.
Middleton spent most of his childhood in the Brunswick and Cleveland area and has lived in Wayne County since he was 18, the outlet reports. He has said Wooster is their home and that the community has been wonderful and supportive. The pair's business history includes opening a venture at the Lodi Outlet Mall in 2021 that closed roughly a year later, followed by a stint serving cheesecake and charcuterie out of Local Roots, according to the same account.
From Campus Cafe to Downtown Storefront
In 2024, Drake and Middleton opened a cafe space at the University of Akron's Wayne branch, a venture formally known as MARR's Cafe inside the Student Life Building in Orrville. According to University of Akron Wayne College, the campus cafe held its formal grand opening on January 13, 2025, after a student's social media request prompted the owners to pitch a fresh-food concept to college officials. Before that, the college notes, Drake and Middleton ran MARR's as a custom catering business built around a personalized, client-first approach.
The Wooster Marquette was inspired by a desire to celebrate what its owners call the birthplace of culinary tradition, combining French technique with Wooster's own history, per Your Ohio News. The storefront is at 127 W. Liberty St.
Near Other Downtown Restaurants
The Wooster Marquette lands near other downtown dining options, including The Retriever on Liberty and Basil Asian Bistro, according to What Now Columbus. The restaurant brings a French-American concept to downtown Wooster's dining scene.
Downtown Wooster has drawn $145 million in public and private reinvestment over nearly four decades, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, which reported that retail occupancy rose from a low of 42 percent to 90 percent over that span.
