ABOUT US
While many food entrepreneurs begin in a home kitchen, there is often a need for greater space and more suitable amenities as their business grows. This need for low-cost kitchen space led to Chef Space, which offers multiple food preparation and processing stations, access to capital, storage space, and training opportunities for its members.
Our History
Chef Space is Louisville’s first kitchen incubator.
An affordable, fully licensed shared kitchen where food entrepreneurs can test recipes, scale operations, and grow into sustainable businesses. This 13,556 square foot facility repurposed the much-loved Jay’s Cafeteria, which had been vacant for several years. After countless discussions with community members, Community Ventures wanted to help the community preserve the legacy of Jay's while also meeting the larger need for fresh food options in the West End. Soon, the concept for Chef Space was born.
Inside Chef Space
A kitchen incubator is a shared, licensed commercial kitchen.
For food entrepreneurs (caterers, food truck operators, bakers, and value-added food producers), a kitchen incubator provides space that they can rent at affordable rates and access to resources to help build their businesses. We are a fully-licensed and certified commercial kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment. Our aim is to add to Louisville's already vibrant local food scene by creating a community of like-minded entrepreneurs dedicated to producing top-notch products.
Launched to meet the demand for professional space beyond home kitchens, our 13,500 sq. ft. facility includes:
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Cooking & prep stations
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Dry and cold storage
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Walk-in freezers
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Ovens, mixers, and food processors
But Chef Space is more than equipment. We provide training, workshops, and direct support to help members move from idea to launch.
Consumer Packaged Goods
In 2024, Chef Space created a consumer packaged goods wing. This expansion provides new space, equipment, and larger storage areas to allow our current and emerging packaged goods producers to increase their production, handle larger orders, and generate more revenue.
Our Team
Tom Murro
President
Darrelldrika Jackson
Member Services Specialist
Greg James
Member Support Specialist
Our Partners
We are grateful for our generous community partners, funders, and supporters who have made this effort possible.
CITY OF LOUISVILLE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOUISVILLE
COMMUNITY VENTURES
COMMUNITY TRUST BANK
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS (NMTC)
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HEALTHY FOOD FINANCING INITIATIVE (HFFI)
GHEENS FOUNDATION
HONORABLE ORDER OF KENTUCKY COLONELS
HORN FOUNDATION
HUMANA FOUNDATION
JAMES GRAHAM BROWN FOUNDATION
J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK
KENTUCKY REINVESTMENT FUND
KENTUCKY BANK'S BANK ENTERPRISE AWARD
NEIGHBORWORKS AMERICA
PRODIGY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
SAM SWOPE FAMILY FOUNDATION
TEXAS ROADHOUSE
TRADITIONAL BANK
U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
WILSON INDUSTRIES
About Community Ventures
With support from Community Ventures and our generous partners, Chef Space has become a cornerstone for food entrepreneurship in West Louisville. From education to financing, our areas of focus offer the opportunity to enhance the quality of life for people across Kentucky. Come see us if you would like to learn more about purchasing a home, financial coaching, or starting a business.
10,700+
entrepreneurs started or expanded their businesses
1,800+
saved from foreclosure
400,000+
educated and trained
