Kitchen United, the GV-backed start-up creating a new way for restaurant brands to expand via off-premise optimized kitchen centers, announced it has signed lease agreements for kitchen centers in Austin, Texas and Scottsdale, Arizona. The locations are expected to open in the third quarter of 2019 as part of the company’s significant national expansion plans, which includes opening 15 kitchen centers through the course of the year. Kitchen United currently operates locations in Pasadena, California and Chicago, Illinois, and recently announced new lease agreements in Atlanta, Georgia and Columbus, Ohio.
Kitchen United is expanding its presence as the demand for off-premise grows. Its commercial kitchen spaces provide restaurant operators the ability to increase revenue by expanding their off-premise delivery, pickup and catering business, as well as enter new markets without the expensive build-out of a new restaurant. Kitchen United provides its restaurant partners with consumer and operational insights, allowing concepts to tailor their business to best meet local demand, improve efficiency and drive revenue growth.
“The four walls of a traditional restaurant were not built to handle the influx of off-premise orders from consumers who now expect this convenience from the brands they love,” says Jim Collins, Chief Executive Officer of Kitchen United. “There’s inherent disruption from delivery personnel trying to find where their order is, and take-out customers skipping ahead of a line of people waiting to dine-in. Our goal is to simplify this process for restaurant partners, so that they can enjoy the growth opportunity that optimizing your business for off-premise can bring. We’re looking forward to bringing Kitchen United to Austin and Scottsdale to help restaurants build their off-premise business through a more streamlined operation.”
Located at 8023 Burnet Road, the Austin kitchen center will be in one of the most densely populated inner areas of the city and will support between 10 to 15 restaurant partners. Positioned on a major thoroughfare leading out of downtown and the University of Texas, this location will allow restaurant partners to introduce their concepts to a dense area of consumers who are actively seeking out takeout and delivery options. The location is in a redeveloping area that has become popular among recent college graduates.
“We are thrilled to announce our first location in Austin, a city that we believe is perfectly suited for Kitchen United given its evolution as a growing hub for young adults,” adds Meredith Sandland, Chief Operating Officer for Kitchen United. “With a growing numbers of restaurants, office space and housing, we are confident that the Austin market will provide our restaurant partners with ample opportunity to capitalize on the rising consumer demand for off-premise dining.”
Located at 1727 E Shea Blvd, the Scottsdale kitchen center is located in a well situated plaza center with significant access and visibility for Kitchen United’s restaurant partners, as well as third-party delivery services and customers. The location is also in close proximity to several hotels, resorts and hospitals, providing opportunity for room service substitutes.
“According to Census data, there is demonstrated growth going on between Scottsdale and Tempe, providing the right traffic patterns and brand visibility for our restaurant partners,” continues Sandland. “Furthermore, when it came to selecting the Scottsdale location, we chose a high development area that will offer our restaurant partners the most favorable opportunity for increased business.”
Kitchen United takes a data driven approach to identify the most promising locations for its kitchen centers, aggregating insights on demographics, income levels and cuisine-specific demand, as well as drive time, traffic patterns and other data. By the end of 2019, the company expects to open 15 kitchen centers in markets including Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver and New York City.
