Celebrate the weekend with some good drinks at The Rose Garden. With their soft opening this Saturday, there are bound to be good times at this lovely little bar nestled in the hills of Mozart, WV.
“It’s off the beaten path, but it’s still local. And we have GOOD people in this kitchen,” said Adam Rose, owner of The Rose Garden. The Rose Garden is located right on the Marshall County/Ohio County line, nestled on a back road, formerly known to many Wheelingites as “McGovern’s.” McGovern’s bar was a fan favorite to many locals for years until it closed in 2016. It was later purchased by Rose’s family at an auction in 2018.
“My family got the property in auction in 2018. Since then, I’ve been approached by family members asking if I was interested in opening a bar, and the answer was always, ‘NO,’ but eventually, a career change in 2023 was a sign that the time was right,” said Rose.
“In reality, this all started at a NASCAR race in Bristol,” Adam’s wife, Brittany, adds while laughing. “You came home ready to open a bar,” she continues.
Rose went to the race in Bristol, and after troubleshooting the bar scenario with friends and family, he returned to Wheeling ready for a new chapter. “That was in October of 2023, and I’ve been here every day since then,” states Rose.
The bar needed a significant amount of renovation, much of which Adam completed himself with the help of friends and family. “We’re also offering an outdoor setting,” he states as he shows a spanning outdoor space with a large double deck, new landscaping, and the start of what will be a bocce ball court.
Many Wheeling businesses contributed to the venture: “Vance Printing did our logo, Nail City Painting painted our exterior, and Finsley Creative has helped with our marketing,” Brittany adds. In addition to the renovations, including a top floor that will be available as a rental space for small parties, McGovern’s needed a new name. The Rose Garden felt natural to both Brittany and Adam as it incorporated the family name. Their new signage was completed locally and embodies a fresh look for the property.
The Rose Garden’s menu includes classics like fried green tomatoes coupled with unique selections, like their “dip flight.” The Rose Garden will also offer a fully functional bar with various drink specials, wines, and bottled domestic and international beer. “Right now, we are aiming for a soft opening on April 27. We’d love it if our social media followers would come to visit throughout the day and see what we have to offer the community,” Rose states. The Rose Garden aims to be completely operational by the first weekend in May.
Stay up-to-date with The Rose Garden by following them on Facebook and Instagram or by visiting rosegarden304.com. The Rose Garden is located at 200 Ruth Ave. in Mozart, WV.
•Karin Butyn was born and raised in Wheeling, WV. A graduate of Wheeling Central, West Liberty University, and Wheeling Jesuit University, Karin spent nearly a decade teaching both English as Second Language and Reading Language Arts. She currently serves as the director of marketing and public relations at Ohio County Schools. In her free time, she enjoys running and music. She and her husband, TJ, are raising their young sons, Finn and Watson, in Warwood.