Summary:
Shared Kitchen Ithaca aims to support aspiring food entrepreneurs by providing affordable access to commercial kitchen space.
The facility offers 4,000 square feet of kitchen space and essential equipment for food production.
Membership fees range from $60 to $1,800, with financial assistance available for low- and moderate-income business owners.
Founder Rod Rotondi envisions the kitchen as a solution to the local food scene's deficiencies.
Local baker Erica Brath describes the kitchen as a game-changer for her business expansion.
A New Era for Food Entrepreneurs in Ithaca
ITHACA, N.Y. — The high cost of commercial kitchen equipment often serves as a significant barrier for aspiring food business founders. A newly established community kitchen aims to provide the support needed to overcome these hurdles.
Shared Kitchen Ithaca, a local non-profit, officially opened its doors on April 21. This innovative space functions as both a small business incubator and a commercial kitchen, allowing business owners to apply for membership. For a monthly fee, members gain access to 4,000 square feet of commercial kitchen space and various resources ranging from production and distribution to expert advice on business expansion.
The kitchen is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including commercial ranges, a charbroiler, a fryer, a combination oven, and much more. Monthly fees vary from $60 to $1,800 depending on the business size, plus a $185 yearly fee. Low- and moderate-income business owners may qualify for financial assistance towards these fees.
Rod Rotondi, the founder and director of Shared Kitchen Ithaca, brings his extensive experience from running several restaurants and a shared kitchen in Los Angeles. He envisions this kitchen as a solution to a gap in the local food scene, fostering a potential renaissance in specialty food production in the Finger Lakes region.
“Shared Kitchen Ithaca fills this gap by creating the potential for a renaissance of specialty food production in the Finger Lakes,” said Rotondi. “We have the culture, visionary entrepreneurs, farmers, and now the manufacturing space and tools to make it happen.”
Local artisanal baker Erica Brath, who owns Ithaca Breadworks, was among the first to join the shared kitchen. She expressed her excitement, stating, “Shared Kitchen Ithaca is a game-changer for my business. I can bake in 30 minutes in this kitchen what takes me nine hours to do in my home bakery.” With this new resource, she now has the opportunity to expand her business significantly.
Shared Kitchen Ithaca is not just a kitchen; it's a launchpad for culinary dreams, offering invaluable support to those looking to make their mark in the food industry.
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