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Irwin Street Market Test Kitchen
By Katherine Hollis
The Irwin Street Market is not only a nurturing environment for women-owned businesses, there is also a certified kitchen behind the market where people can perfect recipes or develop new products without committing to a huge commercial space. The certified kitchen is one of the many ways that Irwin Street Market has removed any boundaries for creativity and business expansion. Although several of the vendors at the market use the kitchen, the space is available to anyone, even for just an hour.
Pam Spivey, who manages the kitchen’s schedule and availability, sells her Gardener’s Table products at the Irwin Street Market, uses the kitchen to prepare candied fruit peels, preserves, relishes and fruit blends.
Jewelry designer Dellanny Maxwell Snyder has developed a high-protein ice cream made with all-natural and organic ingredients, with chocolate-peanut butter among the favorite flavors. Other frequent users of this kitchen also include vegan caterers and a personal chef.
Renting commercial kitchen space can be a big – and seemingly overwhelming – commitment. Many of the participants describe the difficulty in finding a place to create their specialties. With specific criteria such as of time of day, location and cost just trying to find a place to work can be a struggle. Jake Rothschild, whose Jake’s Ice Cream is also under the Irwin Street Market roof, appeals to people trying to make a business work because he went through it himself and he wished that someone had supported him or just said: “Hey, let me help you out!” He’s using this test kitchen as an opportunity to pay it forward.
www.irwinstreetmarket.com.
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