Draft:Union Kitchen
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Business incubator |
| Founded | 2012 in Washington, D.C. |
| Founders | Jonas Singer Cullen Gilchrist |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Cullen Gilchrist (CEO) |
| Website | www |
Union Kitchen is an American business incubator based in Washington, D.C.[1][2][3]
Union Kitchen merges the concepts of a shared kitchen and a business incubator, catering primarily to small food businesses.[4]
History[edit]
Union Kitchen was founded as Black Strap Bakery[5] in 2012 by Jonas Singer and Cullen Gilchrist in Washington, D.C.[6][7][8] It originated from Singer and Gilchrist's search for a kitchen space for their Blind Dog Cafe and Bakery.[4][1] They repurposed a 7,300-square-foot vacant kitchen near the U.S. Capitol into Union Kitchen, starting with a few members.[4][1][9] The first food incubator was opened by Union Kitchen in 2012 in NoMa.[10][11]
In February 2013, Washington D.C.'s government established a partnership with Union Kitchen aimed at supporting district residents in initiating culinary careers.[12] The initiative provided entrepreneurs at Union Kitchen's Northeast Washington facility a platform for starting their businesses with reduced costs and risks.[12]
In May 2013, Union Kitchen acquired empty lots in NoMa, launching weekend open-air bazaars for food trucks and vendors to sell prepared foods.[13][14] They also planned to host food events and acoustic music on Thursdays and Fridays, and to collaborate with Relay Foods for a weekly grocery pick-up spot.[13]
In March 2014, Union Kitchen opened a market and cafe in Capitol Hill.[15][16]
In November 2014, the National Museum of Women in the Arts formed a partnership with Union Kitchen to manage the museum's Mezzanine Cafe.[17] This collaboration involved a rotation of pop-up cafes operated by Union Kitchen's members.[17] In the same year, Union Kitchen was named as one of the finalists for USA Today's Entrepreneur of the Year award.[4]
In 2015, Union Kitchen expanded its operations by opening a second location in Ivy City.[18] It also invested $2 million in a 15,000-square-foot warehouse, increasing the capacity for new members.[19][3][20]
In 2016, Union Kitchen stepped down as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Union Kitchen.[20][21]
In January 2018, Union Kitchen opened a 2,500-square-foot grocery store in the One Franklin Square building in Washington, D.C., and another 3,000-square-foot store in the redeveloped Ballston Quarter mall in Ballston.[22]
Business model[edit]
Union Kitchen provides small food enterprises with six-month memberships to a regulated community kitchen at a reduced cost.[4] Additionally, Union Kitchen provides services in branding and distribution, as well as catering and distribution for member products.[4]
Union Kitchen also provides a distribution company managed by the incubator itself.[3] The membership also includes a coworking space situated near one of the kitchens.[3][11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/union-kitchen-a-cooking-space-for-start-ups/2013/04/26/9302b8e0-adc1-11e2-a986-eec837b1888b_story.html
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/union-kitchen-gives-small-food-businesses-a-space-to-call-their-own/2013/09/04/6c8ea67c-117d-11e3-b4cb-fd7ce041d814_story.html
- ^ a b c d "Union Kitchen: Where food truck dreams come true". WTOP News. March 22, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Davis, Susan. "Union Kitchen mixes good food with smart business". USA TODAY.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/the-blind-dog-cafe-at-darnells/2012/02/17/gIQA18IkgR_story.html
- ^ "Shared Kitchen Helps Food Entrepreneurs Cook Up Success". Voice of America. March 24, 2014.
- ^ Sidman, Jessica (December 13, 2012). "State of the Artisan: Will New "Food Incubators" Help Create a Culinary Business Boom?". Washington City Paper.
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2021/03/30/union-kitchen-co-owner-refutes-douglas-development.html
- ^ Holzel, David (January 20, 2016). "You should know... Jonas Singer".
- ^ Sidman, Jessica (September 10, 2015). "How Union Kitchen's Expansion Will Affect D.C.'s Food Scene". Washington City Paper.
- ^ a b Hayes, Laura (February 14, 2019). "Food Entrepreneurs Have Much to Weigh Before Tying Their Fates to Union Kitchen's Accelerator". Washington City Paper.
- ^ a b Conneen, Mike (February 13, 2013). "New program helps D.C. residents launch careers in the culinary arts". WJLA.
- ^ a b Sidman, Jessica (May 17, 2013). "Union Kitchen Takes Over Empty Lot in NoMa For Open-Air Bazaars". Washington City Paper.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2013/05/22/union-kitchen-plans-live-music-happy-hours-and-food-trucks-in-noma/
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/03/24/union-kitchen-owners-to-open-union-kitchen-grocery-a-food-market-in-capitol-hill/
- ^ Sidman, Jessica (February 11, 2014). "Union Kitchen to Open Second Facility for D.C. Food Businesses". Washington City Paper.
- ^ a b https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2014/11/07/union-kitchen-will-take-over-the-national-museum-of-women-in-the-arts-cafe/
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/08/26/union-kitchen-opens-a-second-larger-facility-in-ivy-city/
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top-shelf/2014/02/food-incubator-union-kitchen-to-open.html
- ^ a b "Union Kitchen Co-Founder Jonas Singer Steps Down as CEO - Washingtonian". September 6, 2016.
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/inno/stories/profiles/2016/09/06/union-kitchen-co-founder-jonas-singer-out-as-ceo.html
- ^ https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/01/18/union-kitchen-opening-two-more-d-c-area-grocery.html