- February 5, 2025
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Riverwalk Park visitors can now refuel after hours of play at Picnic in the Park, the newly-opened concession stand, run by local caterer Maria Mills-Benat and Kona Ice of South Volusia County.
“I love being around people, and my main objective is to feed people,” Mills-Benat said.
The venture is another stepping stone for Mills-Benat, her husband, Greg Benat, and their partners Tammy Hoffman and Judy Capell.
Mills-Benat has lived in Port Orange her entire life and is very involved in the community.
In addition to managing her catering business, A Gourmet Affair Catering, and salsa-making company, Salsa Addiction, she serves on several boards and also founded Foundation 37, which helps people going through tough times.
She is thrilled to see Riverwalk Park gain momentum.
She remembers the first City Council meeting where the park was proposed and again when it was discussed couple years ago during another meeting.
When Riverwalk was under development, the City of Port Orange also included a concession stand available for lease.
Mills-Benat partnered with Hoffman and Capell, who own Kona Ice of South Volusia County, to bring the concession to life.
Capell and Hoffman are retirees from Georgia.
They frequently visited Daytona Beach Shores, and they new it was where they wanted to retire.
After learning about shaved ice in Hawaii, they looked into Kona Ice and founded the local franchise.
They have three big Kona Ice trucks, two miniature trucks and a boat.
Capell and Hoffman, who also are heavily involved in the community, met Mills-Benat through Foundation 37.
When they started talking about this venture, they decided to run it under the Kona Ice umbrella to expand their offerings.
“We’re very excited,” Hoffman said. “It’s a booming area, and the park is a great place for families to get drinks, food, Kona Ice, play games and have a good time.”
They got the lease in July and hosted a soft opening on Saturday.
The concession will offer typical concession foods, such as hot dogs and chips, but also gourmet foods, specialty sandwiches and truffle fries.
In addition to buying food, visitors can rent lawn games, such as bocce, tic-tac-toe and dominoes.
Mills-Benat said they also will take free picnic reservations.
Visitors can reserve a date and time online, request food and Mills-Benat and her team will arrange a spot with a blanket and picnic basket with food.
Picnic in the Park also will cater big events at the park, such as the Riverwalk Drive-In Movie event on Sept. 7.
The concession is open every day in the summer, and it will open only during weekends in the fall and winter.
Mills-Benat imagines the River District, which encompasses the park and businesses along the Ridgewood Corridor, becoming the place to be, and she is excited to be at the forefront of this development.
“I never thought I’d have a spot on Riverwalk,” she said.
