Mango Tree Celebrates 10 Years Serving Mariemont

By Suzy Weinland

At Mango Tree Mariemont, Owner Nick Kongdech believes good food starts with good quality ingredients. And they have been serving high-quality Thai and Sushi to Mariemont and surrounding communities since February 2013.

Nick told me that when they first opened at 7229 Wooster Pike, in the Promenade, “this amazing community welcomed us with open arms.” He said the kindness and neverending support from area customers has kept them cooking for 10 years.

“When I arrived in Cincinnati 22 years ago, I drove past Mariemont for the first time and have been in love with the neighborhood ever since,” said Nick. “I remember getting out of the car to take a walk and felt the fresh air and saw the beautiful trees all around.” He said that in that moment, the architecture, the flowers, the serenity, and the welcoming ambience made opening a restaurant in Mariemont his goal.

Nick shared that Mango Tree, like many family-owned restaurants, were hit hard by the pandemic, then the “great resignation,” recession, shortage of supplies, and the ever-rising food and labor costs. “But, we were re-assured time after time that this community would lift us out of these difficult situations. On behalf of my family and all our staff, I would like to thank each of you for all that you have done to support us. We couldn’t have made it these 10 years without you. We hope you will continue to support our family-owned, small business so that we may continue to serve this wonderful community for many years to come.”

Mango Tree Mariemont serves daily lunch and dinner, both dine-in and carry out, prepared by experienced chefs. Nick hopes everyone will stop by and celebrate Mango Tree’s 10-year anniversary and is offering a 10% discount during the month of March for those who bring in and show Mango Tree’s “10 percent off during March” ad from the March issue of the Mariemont Town Crier (page 10).

Nick added, “And to the Mariemont community, congratulations on your Centennial!” Congratulations Nick and family! Keep up the good work and delicious food.

By Kimberly Flick, MariElders Transportation Coordinator

We can do remarkable things at any stage of our life. For older adults, however, there seem to be more obstacles. But most of us have realized many of our dreams and can continue to do so.

Mary Emery, the founder of our beautiful Village, is a testament to fulfilling a dream. Her vision was not of something for herself, but for the generations of families who have since benefited from calling Mariemont “home.” When Mrs. Emery planned her “National Exemplar,” she envisioned a “complete community for young and old to enjoy.” She named her dream Mariemont, after her vacation estate in Rhode Island.

The Emerys had been extremely successful in real estate, developing Cincinnati’s first apartment buildings and many commercial ventures, accessible to burgeoning streetcar transportation. Thomas Emery, Mary’s husband of forty years passed in 1906. She was not only widowed by age 61, but had lost both of her young sons, Albert and Sheldon. Some would have retired their ambitions at that point. Mrs. Emery delved into her belief that the rich had a responsibility to “spend for the physical, social, civic and educational betterment of their hometown citizens.” She funded orphanages, colleges, hospitals, and institutions including Cincinnati Art Museum and Cincinnati Zoo. All faiths and races were included in her gracious benevolence.

Mary Emery’s dream of developing a complete community with open spaces, yet near to places of employment, stores and transportation, was beginning to germinate before World War I, in 1914. In less than ten years, the surveying and acquisition of land and elaborate planning for the architecture and infrastructure of this garden community was well underway.