There are a number of ghost kitchen operations in the greater Los Angeles area, but few compare with Partake Collective’s ability to get a chef up and running in as short a time as 30 days.
The very concept of ghost kitchens – where food operations focus on delivery, catering or prepping for mobile operations – is new. Renting or leasing a kitchen to cook commercially without the overhead of a building or serving staff for a sit-down restaurant didn’t become a “thing” until 2019 on the West Coast.
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, pickup or delivery suddenly became the only option for most chefs. Many operated out of restaurant kitchens, but the basic overhead remained high without the foot traffic so critical to keeping restaurants in business.
Food delivery services boomed, with Uber Eats and Door Dash dominating the market. While restaurants struggled to survive using those services, some chefs decided they could provide great meals without paying for empty dining rooms.
The result? Commercial kitchen facilities renting space – soon to become known generically as ghost kitchens.
By the time the pandemic had run its course, rental kitchens had become firmly established. Partake Collective opened its flagship location in 2022, immediately standing out from the crowd.
For starters, the space was designed by the renowned Studio One Eleven, refurbishing a historic building near downtown. Partake’s multi-story facility features natural light, unlike the windowless warehouse locations of most ghost kitchens near me.
Add 25 kitchens with multiple configurations and options, ranging from prep kitchens to fully equipped commercial kitchens to a public-facing demonstration kitchen. There’s cold storage, dry storage, pick-up areas for delivery companies and even a food hall. Rental agreements range from hourly to longer term leases.
That wide variety of options sets Partake apart from other rental kitchen options in the greater Los Angeles area. But perhaps the biggest difference is unseen – the low cost, quick turn-around and expert assistance Partake provides. Everyone from experienced food professionals to those just beginning to chase their dream benefit from the Partake white glove treatment.
At Partake, a food operation can be up and running in as little as 30 days. Kitchens are fully equipped, all have been certified and relationships with licensing entities mean quick response to requests for inspections.
Partake’s flagship in Long Beach opened in 2022 and the Los Angeles location opened earlier this year, meaning all equipment is state-of-the-art and ready to go. Whether you are looking to share kitchen space or set up a major commercial operation, it can and will happen quickly.
Here’s the breakdown. There are three steps: application & fit (one week), insurance, business license, health approvals (2-5 weeks), and move-in, test days, first sale (1-2 weeks).
Startup costs are more reasonable than most as well. For example, it still takes health department permits, business licenses, food handler certifications, etc., even when renting a ghost kitchen. On your own, it could take months, and cost more than $30,000.
Most ghost kitchen operations offer some help. But Partake has cleared all the paths with already inspected kitchens, help with USDA certification and more.
At Partake, the utilities are part of the rent and insurance is easily available. Every kitchen is equipped with the latest appliances and utensils, and there’s plenty of food storage for both dry and refrigerated needs. It’s all in a state-of-the-art space.
Cost to rent a kitchen varies depending on space and the amenities involved. Partake is competitive with all the ghost kitchen alternatives around LA. The Partake secret sauce is the flexibility found at both the Long Beach and Los Angeles (Glassell Park) locations.
There’s a wide range of kitchen levels to choose from to fit specific needs, from the prep kitchens to the custom-prepared commercial kitchen. Options range from short-term hourly contracts for prep or shared kitchens to longer-term leases for exclusive use options.
Bottom line, it pays to compare what ghost kitchens near me offer as well as what they charge. We’re confident that when you do, you’ll see that Partake rises above the crowd.
Doing research always helps, and tours of both Partake locations are available. Partake Long Beach is at 456 Elm Ave. Partake Los Angeles (Glassell Park) is at 3716 Eagle Rock Blvd. To book a tour, go to partakecollective.com/book-a-tour.