 |
| |
Welcome to the highs and lows of getting a commercial kitchen set up!
- September 2007: I start off this adventure by posting a thing on Craig's List, as a personal chef seeking a kitchen to rent. As usual, this sort of thing results not in any responses from anyone with a kitchen to rent out, but a few emails from people who either want me to hire them or who want to rent the kitchen I find. Just in case, I respond politely to all who write, since you just never know.
- Also in September: The same day in Craig's List I see an ad for some sublet space in downtown Troy, for a low price. I call to check it out. Long story short, I decide it's not for me (raw space, dark and cavern-like, no good access for loading and unloading). I see another ad, in a newspaper, for space in Rensselaer. I go check this out. It's a "build to suit" sort of thing in a mostly empty, raw space, warehouse. I can't afford enough space to get a window, so I figure "well, I guess I just have to start out in a small windowless place." Long story short on that one, the landlord decides I don't want enough space to make it worth his while to build me a room. Oh well.
- October 2007:Well, maybe this started in late September. At any rate, over the summer I met a woman who was working a temp job in the deli at the Honest Weight Food Co-op (where I work weekends). She called and left me a message with a question about some school lunch program. Clueless, I called her. Turns out she's a teacher at a local private school, and for some time the school has been trying to bring in a simple but healthy lunch program for the kids, K-8. Would I be interested, and if I am, I need to make the food off-site, and deliver. Augh!
- Possible Kitchen #3: I speak to the school principal to say I am interested and to explain my situation and that I am looking to set up a kitchen, does the school have any space? The school does have a kitchen, but it's basically like a household kitchen, which won't meet health department rules. Still, they've considered renovating it, so I go over to have a look. Long story short, it's not a project the school can take on right now.
- Spot #4: In a further turn of coincidence, or whatever you want to call it, I get a call from a guy who needs a special needs cat sitter (my other business). My husband met him back in January when he (Alan, my husband) was looking for an office space for a business in which he is a partner. The guy was renovating a building in Troy and was working with a realtor to find tenants. In the end, the space didn't work out for Alan's business, but in the meantime Alan learned that this guy had two cats that needed insulin and fluids when he went away. The guy moved to Troy in the fall and then called me for his cats. I went over to meet him and his family and cats, and a lot of work was still going on in the building. Having renovated most of an 1880s house in a previous life, actually not too far away from this building, I expressed interest in his project. He offered to show me around. Turns out the space Alan had looked at was still not rented out, and I got to see it. What a nice space! It's basically a one bedroom apartment with an open living space. The building is zoned commercial, but the kitchen is household, of course. The wheels are turning. I mention some stuff to the guy and we agree it might be able to work, and I'll go think about it.
I note how ironic it is that the building is next to an awesome fire station in South Troy that I always wanted to buy (not that is has ever been for sale) and renovate into a cool urban home (with those wheelbarrows of money I don't actually have).
- Jumping off a cliff?: So, I think, and think, and think. I think about how "chicken and egg" this whole thing is ... if I knew for sure I had definite business lined up (still sporadic after 5 years!) I could pay the rent and all that. But, without a space lined up, how can I get a contract like the one with the private school? In the meantime I continue to cook for my long term customers in their homes and I think about how much I will miss their homes! I work more hours at the co-op, even doing some 6am - 3pm days to fill in for the manager when she's on vacation, and I start to think "God, maybe I should just take a full time job here. I love production baking early in the morning. The 5:30 am commute is a dream! I even love making 80 sandwiches every day and helping customers find panko and explaining what Fakin' Bacon is made of ...
life would be so much easier. I might even have time for hobbies again." I imagine committing to this kitchen thing ... I feel like I'm about to jump off a cliff. Should I do it? Can I do personal cheffing AND this catering sort of stuff? Ugh, not sure.
- Do nothing, get nowhere: Many many years ago a friend gave me a jacket she didn't want anymore. In a pocket was a little pin that said "Do nothing, get nowhere." I still have that pin on my dresser. This past week I was in touch with the private school and asked if I was able to prepare the lunches off-site how soon they could start up the program. The answer was that they could do it right away. So, I said I'd get a proposal in. And, I called the landlord of the space near the fire station to see if the space was still available. I'm going over in the morning to check it out and see what he's going to think about the renovations I'd have to make .... I guess I'll go to Staples in the morning and photocopy the code for him. In the meantime .... how to pay a couple month's rent before I can really use the space without raiding my sales tax account ... (that's one great way to put a business under!)..... I haven't jumped yet, but I am very close to the edge and all the little rocks and dirt are crumbling out from under my feet and are dropping down into the chasm!
- November 1, 2007: Great day! I went back to the South Troy space and had a great meeting with the owners (husband and wife). Looked around, we talked about potential changes, and so on. They're into the whole idea! I left with some questions for the county health department relating to this unique situation, like "can I use the shower stall as the required mop sink?" that sort of thing. My contact was in the office when I called and we talked about my questions. Everything is a go! The landlord called me later and had his plumber give his idea on where it would be best to install the 3 bay sink I need to get, and it all sounds good. I will go back tomorrow to meet the plumber, measure the area for the 3 bay, and start calling around to find a used 3 bay sink! Woohoo! Oh yes, and I started costing out some recipes for my school lunch proposal.
- Keep Your Feet Moving: Just another saying I keep around to keep myself going. Well, I'm in that stage of things where there's a lot for me to do, and I have to assume this is all going to come together. Wrote my lunch proposal this weekend, after costing out two weeks' worth of menus, and delivered it to the school this morning. Big step! Saw an ad on Craig's List for a used refrigerator and upright freezer, which are two things I was thinking I need to get right away ... turns out the person lives just around the corner from me. Too funny. I'll be going to take a look at that stuff today. I drew my floorplan last night after getting back from some fun fancy fundraising event ... need to take the plan to the health department for approval before I get the 3-bay sink installed. It seemed a lot easier to do after a lot of great food served by a variety of guest chefs at the fundraiser, and a couple of Newcastles. :) It was VERY nice to not be the person working food on a Sunday for a change!! So, now to complete the multi-page questionnaire from the health department, and head out to that office and then to hit up some restaurant supply places to check out sinks. Things are moving along!
- November 5: Took my floor plan to the heatlh department (along with my 5,000 page questionnaire) and met with the sanitarian who gave it the OK. Sweet.
- November 6: One of my cat sitting customers offers to give me a downdraft Jenn-Air unit with grill, griddle, fryer and such. She said she might have used it 6 times in over 10 years and had actually had it removed from her kitchen countertop. It certainly looks brand new! I gratefully accept it ... I'm already thinking about my kitchen equipment expansion ....
- November 9:Well, tried to find a used sink, but it turns out the size I need, with drainboards, is considered small. I could find very large 3 bay sinks! But, I need something under 6 feet, to fit the space that's available. So, I ended up ordering a new sink. Yikes! ($$) Well, I had better love it. :) It might take up to 10 days for the sink to arrive, so things are in sort of a lull because of that. In the meantime, I've been on the lookout for a used Robot Coupe R2 (food processor), with no luck. There's a few online, but the prices are not all that much of a bargain. A new R2 is around $1,000. However, I saw one on Ebay, new in box, with a starting bid of $300. Go figure. We'll see if I have the winning bid or not, when the auction ends.
- Free Falling! November 19: It's official now, in the sense that I paid my deposit and first month's rent on the new work space in Troy. I want to be excited, but right now I am just trying to remain calm during this waiting period ... waiting for the sink before I can move ahead. Waiting to hear back from the school on the lunches. Lost out on the Robot Coupe, but hey, whatever. Excitement to come, when I allow it.
- November 28 Have you ever wondered why it takes so long for a new restaurant to open? All I need is a sink, and I still don't have it! But, I did go over to the work space yesterday and spent a couple of hours cleaning. It's going to be great, and I am very excited to get to work in that space!
- Success is rarely about speed: Just a little sign I had over my desk at home ... good thing! The sink is here and has been here a while. The plumber has been missing. Although yesterday he did take the sink out of the box. Progress, I suppose. It's going to be surreal when I do have a working sink! It's December 19 today. Maybe before Christmas?
I already have a new customer lined up for delivery service!!
- December 20Ok, the sink is here, the plumber is now here, but it turns out we're missing the drain mechanisms for the sink. (Theoretically, basic strainers were promised with the sink, but did not materialize.) Great! Drain stuff on order. Maybe next week we'll get a working sink. Happy news though, I did get a robot coupe from Ebay for a very nice price.
- It's Official!: Here we are at the end of January and the sink has been installed, I've set up the rest of my required supplies and such, and the Rensselaer County Health Department sanitarian has been by to inspect. I'm now the proud owner of a food service permit and a new phase of Personal Chef, LLC can begin!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lori Doyle • Personal Chef
lori@personalchef-llc.com
324 3rd Street,
Troy, NY 12180
Ph: 518-286-1650
|
|
|
