Pots and pans laid all over the counters and tables in the Lilac Lane home of Ken and Doris Ferguson. Dishes were piling up in the two-hole sink. Refrigerators were plugged in to every outlet possible. Two freezers were in the garage. Another freezer sat in the basement. A stove was in the dining room, kitchen and living room. Appliances were everywhere. Additional wiring had to be added to the home to compensate for the increase in electrical wattage.

This was the scene at the Ferguson’s home as their catering company Fergy’s On Main began in 2002.

Limited space and a growing cliental were making it difficult for them to continue making meals out of their home.

“It greatly impacted our living quarters,” Ken said. “All the living space in our home was being occupied by the appliances for our business. We pretty much lost our house.”

After moving a fifth refrigerator into their living room, the Fergusons relocated to a house on Walnut Street in 2004 that provided the room necessary for them to operate.

However, the Walnut Street home was located in a residential area that was not zoned for commercial use, so they were forced to move their company in 2007 to a storefront on Main Street after facing a cease and desist operations letter from the city law director.

“When we got the cease and desist letter from the Ashland city law director there was a vacant building on Main Street that we passed every day from our home on our way to the Walnut Street location,” Ken said. “The owner of (the Main Street building) approached us and asked if we were interested in buying the building, which we declined. But we agreed to lease the building.”

From that point forward, Fergy’s has steadily grown into one of the top catering businesses in Ashland and the surrounding areas.

A typical day for Ken begins with him waking up at 7 a.m., lighting a cigar and going and getting his first of what will be many coffees for the day. 

He does this routine every day of week.

“Everybody has a habit or daily routine,” Ken said. “Every day I get up, light my Black and Mild cigar and then go to McDonald’s and get one large cup of coffee with three creams and a medium cup with two creams. I then come to work and work off the lists that Doris made for the day.”