The Commissary: Downtown Kitchen Incubator

Located in the heart of downtown Rochester, we are a vibrant commercial shared kitchen and community that offers food-centric services and support to start, grow, and adapt your business.

About

The Commissary, the region’s first food business incubator and only shared kitchen permitted in Monroe County, is a social entrepreneurship enterprise aimed at facilitating the creation of new food business ownership opportunities for members of our community.

 The Commissary is designed to increase success rates for urban, early stage or growing food businesses by reducing startup barriers and offering a robust system of business development support specifically developed for the high-risk food sector. The Commissary is filling a much-needed gap in the Rochester market, encouraging prospective food business owners to legitimize and accelerate their concepts. The Commissary’s incubation services and shared kitchen facility serve as critical support for aspiring food business entrepreneurs with limited access to resources that are looking to launch and grow their businesses. The facility and services have been designed to accommodate food truck operators, caterers, bakers, virtual restaurants, home-based food businesses looking to legalize, and startup packaged food manufacturers. Members of The Commissary will pay for the necessary documents and permits to become legal businesses and then pay for their time in the kitchen by the hour with no overhead costs or minimum rental requirements. The Commissary strives to create a community that includes a diverse group of business types and business owners. The mission of The Commissary is to increase the probability of success for participating entrepreneurs, and we are committed to offering opportunities to entrepreneurs who come from challenged city neighborhoods and may have great ideas and industry experience, but limited resources.

Services Provided

Business Planning

  • Forming a Business
  • Market Research

Manufacturing, High Tech, Life Sciences Development

  • Commercialization

Marketing and Sales

  • E-Commerce/Internet Marketing
  • Market Research
  • Website Development

Mentoring

  • One-on-One Counseling
  • Peer Mentoring

Networking and Associations

  • Industry Specific (Specialty)

Space

  • Commercial Kitchen Facilities (Specialty)
  • Conference/Meeting and Event Space

Product Development

  • Product Assembly and Packaging
  • Product Design and Development
  • R&D Support

Starting a Business

  • Forming a Business
  • Registration, Licenses and Permits
  • Startup Business Counseling
  • Startup Classes

Training

  • E-Commerce/Internet Marketing

Accelerators and Incubators

  • Accelerator
  • Incubator

Events and Community Building

  • Neighborhood Fairs and Festivals
  • Pitch Events
  • Startup Drinks
Contact Information
Rhonda Destino