Durham's getting a new incubator -- this time 'round, for food trucks and foodies
February 17, 2011
One of central Durham's newest business ventures is an interesting portmanteau of two different hot memes in recent years here in the Bull City and the Triangle.
In one corner, you have the idea of the incubator, the concept that provides affordable space for start-up companies, mixing in support services, mentoring and access to other help that a new business needs.
In the other corner, you've got Durham's foodie scene, the mix of locavore demand, nearby organic farms and affordable costs that led first to a boom in locally owned restaurants and, in quick succession, food trucks.
Food trucks in particular have boomed in the Bull City, thanks to looser regulations than in other nearby cities -- though the requirement that a mobile eatery has to be tethered back to a brick-and-mortar commercial kitchen has created at least a bit of a barrier to entry.
Enter into this scene The Cookery, a self-described "culinary business incubator" opening up this spring on West Chapel Hill St. in the building that once housed the Durham Food Co-op.
Come April, The Cookery will be a full-service commercial kitchen space available for rent by the hour, 24 hours a day, with everything that food trucks, caterers or other budding food entrepreneurs will need to make their business go.
Besides four commercial convection ovens, a 30 quart floor mixer, a walk-in cooler and reach-in freezers, The Cookery will offer terminals for cleaning and stocking food trucks and rental lockers.
But The Cookery isn't slated to just be a kitchen for rent. It's planned to be a true business incubator, too, offering design and marketing services and hosting seminars and workshops to help food entrepreneurs get going in their business.
The incubator is the brainchild of Nick Hawthorne-Johnson, who bought the building when the co-op closed, and his wife Rochelle Johnson of Row Design Studios.
“The high cost of starting a food business is what holds most people back. Combining a production facility and business support services under one roof makes launching and growing a food business an attainable goal even for people with limited resources,” said Hawthorne-Johnson in a press reelase.
The couple was involved in the purchase of the building a couple of years back, though future plans for the business were paused while they took a one-year, 30,000 mile driving trip from Durham to Buenos Aires (a trip well-documented in a book and web site.)
(Hat tip to BCR reader MWB for noticing the construction and sending this one in.)
I saw the new signage for that start to go up. What an awesome idea!
Posted by: erin | February 17, 2011 at 08:40 AM
An absolutely inspired concept. Best of luck to the Johnson's and their clients.
Posted by: Doug Roach | February 17, 2011 at 08:54 AM
Great news!!!
Posted by: Diane Wright | February 17, 2011 at 08:55 AM
Go Nick...Go Rochelle...Go Nick...Go Rochelle
Posted by: Scott Harmon | February 17, 2011 at 09:03 AM
Very cool. I love Durham!
Posted by: kelly | February 17, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Go Nick! Such a cool and well-timed idea. Bravo!
Posted by: Walker Teele | February 17, 2011 at 09:17 AM
I believe Asheville has a similar concept that has resulted in many retail food products.
Posted by: Chops | February 17, 2011 at 09:17 AM
Brilliant idea. But then Nick and Rochelle are brilliant people! Best of luck, guys!
Posted by: Jessie | February 17, 2011 at 09:18 AM
WOW. Incredibly happy about this!!
Posted by: TSQ75 | February 17, 2011 at 09:40 AM
Fabulous! I have a small catering business and this is exactly what I need!
Posted by: Stella Smith | February 17, 2011 at 09:58 AM
This is absolutely brilliant! My mouth waters at the thoughts of the great food trucks that could come out of this. I'd personally love to see a truck selling hot malasadas, or one selling bhan mi (I probably botched the spelling).
Posted by: Steve Graff | February 17, 2011 at 10:17 AM
I wish them the best of luck. I hope that they can cooperate with the four county funded Piedmont Food and Ag Processing Center that is opening in Hillsborough in April. Durham Co is one of the partners in the project. You can read more about it in the Herald Sun article here: http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/11374806/article-A-place-to-produce-foods?instance=homesixthleft
Posted by: Elizabeth Read | February 17, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Thanks so much for finding out what the activity was all about - what an exciting development for our neighborhood!
Posted by: Hlh827 | February 17, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Please note that food trucks and caterers must comply with State food service establishment permitting requirements. In addition to State permits there are local business privilege license and zoning requirements. Call the health department at 560-7800 for food establishment information and the City of Durham at 560-1200 for business license and zoning requirements.
Posted by: Marc R. Meyer | February 17, 2011 at 01:40 PM
@Elizabeth-
If I remember correctly, the Piedmont Food and Ag Processing Center has a pricing structure that makes it a really poor choice for food trucks.
The center is great for farmers or the like that want to use the kitchen once a month to make jams or even once a week to make baked good or the like. When it comes to a place to use every day for 2 or 3 hours of prep time, though, the billable hours rack up quick, especially in comparison to the $500 a month or so that restaurants charge to be used as a commissary.
Posted by: Rob Gillespie | February 17, 2011 at 10:33 PM
@Rob, Elizabeth: I am no expert on food truck commissaries, but would also add that with many food trucks getting 10mpg or so at best, a central Durham location may be more affordable to a Durham-based truck than driving to Hillsborough.
Posted by: Kevin Davis | February 18, 2011 at 05:24 AM
Does anyone know the contact information for the owners?
Posted by: John Martin | February 18, 2011 at 01:10 PM
John-
Nick Hawthorn also owns Bull City Restoration. His contact info is on their website:
http://www.bullcityrestoration.com/contact.htm
Posted by: Rob Gillespie | February 18, 2011 at 01:17 PM
@john: the hyperlink in the post takes you to the website
Posted by: TSQ75 | February 18, 2011 at 01:26 PM
Rob and TSQ75:
Thanks!
Posted by: John Martin | February 18, 2011 at 02:18 PM