CoMo Cooks Shared Kitchen is a non-profit commercial kitchen, packing house, and food business incubator. CoMo Cooks was started by The Loop Community Improvement District as part of an overarching economic development plan focused on revitalizing a neglected area of Columbia, Missouri through small-scale manufacturing and local makers.
Our mission is to provide accessible, welcoming, and affordable kitchen space for local food-based businesses, farmers, and small-batch producers as a way to increase economic vitality and business ownership. We do this by creating opportunities for those without easy access to a commercial kitchen, including those who are just starting their business.
We make it easy by providing low hourly rates, business coaching, a shared brand, and promotional support. Our in-house kitchen manager walks new clients through the business start-up process, provides equipment training, and creates how-to cooking videos. We also offer monthly workshops on various business skills, provide pop-up space for clients, and partner with a free one-one-one coaching service.
Since opening a temporary kitchen in a former hospital in Fall of 2020, we began the planning process for a permanent kitchen. We raised $375,000 in grants and donations for construction, equipment, operations, marketing, education, and scholarships. Our new 3200 square foot kitchen officially opened in March of 2023. This new kitchen includes 6 prep stations, a space for pop-ups, and a packing house room where regional farmers can process fresh produce. We even have a kitchen garden with herbs and vegetables for our clients.
In FY2024 we were home to 52 food start-ups. Our clients run the gamut of food options including empanadas, arepas, Ethiopian, Swahili, gyros, shawarma, BBQ, biscuits, hand-crafted chocolate, meal kits, granola, baked goods, kimchi, pickles, and more. This reflects the range of talent among our chefs as well. Because we focus on creating a welcoming and supportive environment, we have clients who never thought they could fulfill the dream of starting their own business.
Since opening, we’ve graduated 13 clients. Not only is our kitchen incubating new businesses but our work also helps bring additional local food options to a neglected neighborhood and brings much needed activity and excitement to the street.
