Partake Collective is an upcoming project that is meant to provide an attainable and realistic means for those who desire a career in the food industry to grow their business with minimal risk and without massive startup costs.
Construction in downtown Long Beach is nearly complete for Partake collective, a unique concept that owner Adam Carrillo describes as “an entrepreneurial ecosystem for the culinary arts.”
Carrillo’s partner received a report from the Long Beach Economic Development Commission highlighting the main challenges that small restaurant owners and hospitality workers faced before COVID-19, issues that were only exacerbated throughout the pandemic.
Partake was created as a response to combat these challenges and meet the increased desire to order food through delivery apps, and most importantly to provide a space for a community passionate about food.
Ghost Kitchens are professional food facilities that do not have a storefront but offer delivery and occasionally feature take-out options. Partake takes this trend and expands it, introducing a full-scale operation and a dining area.
“There is a pathway to business ownership within our small business ecosystem” Carrillo said, this also provides four different kitchen types to accommodate people in different stages of their business.
Located on the corner of 5th and Elm Street and originally built in 1927, the building that houses Partake stands four stories tall and has a variety of spaces, 21 in total.
This includes areas for commercial kitchens, prep, ghost kitchens, shared kitchens, and an eating area that offers an elevated experience.
The collective allows you to order from these kitchens and eat there. The only way one used to have access to these spots was through third-party delivery apps like DoorDash or Postmates.
Typically, the idea of a brick and mortar presents the challenge of saving a ton of money or taking out a risky loan. Leveraging the spaces offered at Partake Collective, an aspiring business owner can sign a lease and move their appliances in right away.
Even for small businesses outside of the foodservice industry, taking that first step toward a physical location can seem out of reach.
Owner of Verse Collective, Shira Tagle describes their dream of opening a shop in Long Beach as overwhelming and out of reach.
Partake is partnered with Long Beach City College’s culinary program, California State University Long Beach, and hopes to expose budding chefs.
The collective also has a space designated for education and aims to provide an educational experience for students who otherwise might not have an opportunity to view behind the scenes.
LEED certification is a tool used to gauge the level of sustainability for a building. Partake collective ranks Gold in LEED certification.
Partake is WELL certified, meaning the building stresses clean air and water sources. This also means that they maximize natural light within their space.
Partake is expected to open between May and June this year.