According to the owners, the name "Lock Sixteen" has always sparked a lot of attention to people. The name is derived from the canal system which passes through Ottoville.
The Catering business was established in 1979. Lock Sixteen continued to grow in the restaurant business until 1990, when a new 10,000 square-foot facility was built to house the kitchen, warehouse, and corporate offices. The original restaurant was sold to a former employee and in 1994, the building burned to the ground.
The year 1991 brought another growth spurt when, with the help of Gordon's Food Service's resources, Lock Sixteen was awarded the Elderly Nutrition Service Contract, which serves thousands of elderly customers in a five county area each week.
In 1992, the Lock Sixteen Restaurant was established in Van Wert, Ohio. The restaurant is well-known for it's American cuisine and specializes in steaks, seafood, and award-winning baby back ribs.
Lock Sixteen Catering continues to grow and is presently serving hundreds of thousands each year. In 1995, a 65 foot semi-tractor-trailer mobile kitchen was added to the fleet.
Over the years, Lock Sixteen has had the opportunity to serve many interesting people, including Ohio State Coach John Cooper, the Beach Boys, REO Speedwagon, Henry Winkler, ZZ Topp, and most recently,Lynard Skynard . Look for us this year at Country Concert 1999!