Longwood Gardens is America’s Best Restroom Popular Public Garden Captures Victory in Cintas’ 13th Annual Contest

Press Release

Kennett Square, PA - America voted and decided that Longwood Gardens has the best public restroom in all the land. After viewing its awe-inspiring “green wall” and eco-friendly design, the online public selected the venue’s restroom over a strong field of finalists in the 13th annual contest.

As the most visited public garden in America, Longwood Gardens is renowned for its grand horticulture displays. Now, the distinctive restrooms have become a national icon too. Along with the “green wall” outside the restrooms, visitors find etched translucent glass inside that provides natural light thereby reducing electricity use.

As the 2014 winner, Longwood Gardens also receives a $2,500 credit to spend on Cintas services like restroom cleaning and supplies or wet mops for their restroom floors. All three top vote getters win a complimentary Deep Clean of their restroom (valued up to $500).

“We’re excited to announce Longwood Gardens as the 2014 Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom,” said Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager John Engel. “The team at Longwood understands the value of a restroom that’s creative and memorable for guests.”

Engel visited Longwood Gardens on Wednesday, November 19 to present Chief Marketing Officer Marnie Conley with the 2014 award. Longwood has now secured its place in the Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame.

In the contest, which attracted thousands of online votes, America chose Bowl Plaza in Lucas, Kansas as the No. 2 place “to go.” The Fabulous Fox Theater in St. Louis, Missouri took 3rd place.

“We are so pleased to receive the America’s Best Restroom award,” said Conley. “Longwood Gardens is about beautiful horticulture, being a good steward to our environment, and providing an extraordinary experience for our more than one million guests each year.”

As for the restroom’s famous green wall? “The wall has become a ‘must-see’ destination for our guests, many of whom may have never seen a green wall before and are curious about how we care for it,” said Conley. “It’s the only restroom with its own docents!”

The 2014 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, a retail complex, an outdoor restroom along a running trail and a children’s toy store. Cintas selected the ten finalists based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.

2014 America’s Best Restroom Contest Finalists

American Girl Place - Chicago, IL
Bowl Plaza - Lucas, KS
El Centro - Washington, DC
The Fabulous Fox Theater - St. Louis, MO
The Grove - Los Angeles, CA
Longwood Gardens - Philadelphia, PA
Mai Kai Restaurant - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Plums Café - Costa Mesa, CA
Tiki Lounge - Pittsburgh, PA
Trail Restroom - Austin, TX

Cintas launched the America’s Best Restroom Contest in 2002 to honor businesses across the country that consider hygiene and style top priorities.

“This project is a lot of fun but also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean restrooms and customer retention,” said Engel. “We look forward to celebrating our 14th year in 2015 and invite the public to nominate their favorite facility online now for consideration in next year’s competition.”

For more information or to set up an interview, please contact Survey Editor Danny Rubin at 757-285-7617.

About Cintas
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, first aid, safety and fire protection products and services. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

About Longwood Gardens
In 1906, industrialist Pierre du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,100 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ and grand conservatory. Longwood continues the mission set forth by Mr. du Pont to inspire people through excellence in garden design, horticulture, education and the performing arts, through programming that includes exhibitions, musical performances by leading artists, renowned horticulture education programs, horticulture research, environmental stewardship and community engagement. Open daily, Longwood is one of more than 30 gardens in the Philadelphia region known as America’s Garden Capital. For more information, visit longwoodgardens.org.