Performance kitchen nearly ready for show time

Courtesy York County Economic Development Corp.

This artist rendering of the Rojahn Performance Kitchen
at Central Market shows the retro look.

By Caitlyn Meyer

Construction of the Rojahn Performance Kitchen at Central Market, part of the Shared Kitchen Incubator of York (YorKitchen), is almost complete. The project is being developed by NutriCore NorthEast Inc., which is an initiative of the York County Economic Development Corp. YorKitchen has partnered with Rojahn Custom Cabinetry of Dallastown to produce a show kitchen that will compliment the commercial shared kitchen.

Jack LeCesa, president of Rojahn Custom Cabinetry, coordinated the efforts to produce the performance kitchen in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary in York County. More than a dozen other companies donated to the project, including Appliance Distributors Unlimited, W Metalworks, Blum, Chemical Coatings Inc., Conestoga Wood Specialities, Eastern Surfaces, Glen Gery Brick, Lafferty Lumber, Rojahn Company, Russell Plywood, Thos. Summerville, Topknobs, and Wecker’s Carpet.

The retro-style design of the show kitchen will compliment the décor of Central Market. Seating as well as professional lighting and audio equipment will accompany the space.

The performance kitchen will be open to the public on market days from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. People may also rent the performance kitchen during off hours for classes, demonstrations, and private parties. Classes will be led by local chefs, professionals and restaurant owners.

Nutrition education seminars will also be held in the performance kitchen. Topics will include eating healthy on a budget, eating fresh foods throughout the year (canning and blanching techniques), and how to read nutrition labels. Programming will touch all walks of life and provide much-needed education about the importance of our local agricultural economy.

The Rojahn Performance Kitchen will be an asset to the revitalization of Central Market and help attract people to downtown York. Individuals and/or parties interested in hosting an event or reserving time in YorKitchen should visit http://www.yorkitchen.com/. Watch a video about YorKitchen and the performance kitchen here.

Would you consider booking an event at the kitchen?

Caitlyn Meyer is the business development coordinator for the York County Economic Development Corp. She coordinates YCEDC activities related to the York County Economic Development Plan, seeks to work with local governments through the Municipal Outreach Program and works on business retention. Caitlyn earned her bachelor’s degree in history from York College of Pennsylvania in 2009 and has been with YCEDC since that time. Caitlyn lives and works in York City. She can be reached at cmeyer@ycedc.org or 717-846-8879, ext. 3053.

YorKitchen offers opportunity for food entrepreneurs



It's a work in progress, but starting this spring Central Market's
YorKitchen expects to attract aspiring restaurant owners
 interested in learning how to open a business.

 by Caitlyn Meyer

Since the York County Economic Development Plan was adopted by the York County Commissioners in 2009, the York County Economic Development Corp. and the York County Planning Commission have been working closely to implement the 122 strategies outlined in the Action Plan.

One strategy for nurturing rural area economic development in York County was to start a community kitchen project.

The shared kitchen incubator project, known as YorKitchen, is a NutriCore NorthEast Inc. initiative. Construction of YorKitchen began this month and should be finished by late February. The project is supported by a $99,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Enterprise Grant and a $4 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.

In downtown York’s Central Market, YorKitchen will provide a service unique to the York area. The modern commercial kitchen will be available for rent to food producers and for nutrition educational training. YorKitchen’s developers hope that it stimulates small business growth in the region, and that effort will be supported by entrepreneurial incubator services provided by the Entrepreneurial Support Alliance.

YorKitchen, together with the numerous community organizations that provide assistance to low-income residents, will provide extensive educational programs covering topics of nutrition and healthy food options. The kitchen will also provide workforce training opportunities and opportunities for entrepreneurs to begin their own enterprise at low cost. And it will also host ticketed events such as cooking classes.

The YorKitchen incubator will provide significant benefits to food manufacturing entrepreneurs and agricultural producers. Many food producers do not have the resources to build and equip their own certified facility. This prevents potential businesses from entering the market while others are illegally producing food items in unlicensed home kitchens. A kitchen incubator can help solve these problems by lowering operating costs, including lease payments, overhead and equipment costs for food producers. The kitchen incubator will also meet federal and state laws and regulations.

For more information about YorKitchen, please contact info@yorkitchen.com.

Caitlyn Meyer is the business development coordinator for the York County Economic Development Corp. She coordinates YCEDC activities related to the York County Economic Development Plan, seeks to work with local governments through the Municipal Outreach Program and works on business retention. Caitlyn earned her bachelor’s degree in history from York College of Pennsylvania in 2009 and has been with YCEDC since that time. Caitlyn lives and works in York City. She can be reached at cmeyer@ycedc.org or 717-846-8879, ext. 3053.