I did a happy dance today, when I found out this Kickstarter was fully funded. So I thought it would be fun to have a thread about unique projects in your city. Maybe development projects or adaptive reuse or similar, that could be replicated in other places.
So back to my project, about 2 years ago, a unique commercial kitchen opened up. It is a small scale commercial kitchen, people can rent it by the hour and get their food business off the ground (without needed a full kitchen or a store). What was different about this kitchen, it is a "community" space and they actually help to market and promote the vendors. They end up hosting regular parties/events so the vendors can sell their wares in an open house, like on the First Friday Art Walk or for major holidays. Since it is a bit like a co-op, you might come in to get gourmet popcorn and leave with Brazilian cheese balls. They also set up a regular box you can get delivered with the good and partner up with CSAs too. All in all it is a great model for a food incubator. (They are housed in a warehouse just on the edge of downtown).
The vendors sell wholesale, in the farmers market or run catering companies.
So a couple of weeks ago, they decided they wanted to create a "take-out window." Basically each vendor would pay a small fee for a "shift" and they can sell their wares and increase their margins, and give people in the neighborhood a takeout option.
So the kickstarter is funded and the take out window is on the way. It is super cool, since it is basically going to be like having 10 restaurants in one.
Kickstarter link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...ener-snack-bar
A good article on the project:
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oaklan...nt?oid=3830038
**And as for the success of the vendors in the kitchen? One graduated to a restaurant that is opening in the next couple of weeks. Another one, the empanada guy supplies empanadas to cafes and bars all over the city.
So what are some interesting projects in your city, encouraging economic development, or reusing/rehabbing old buildings, mixed-use developments, slowing gentrification, kickstarting a new neighborhood or something else?
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