Welcome to Clinton Culinary, the ideal destination for local food artisans, entrepreneurs, and restaurateurs looking to establish or enhance their presence in a storefront setting. Through our Incubator, we provide space and assistance for businesses eager to develop their culinary endeavors.
The application is at the bottom of the page and we encourage you to take some time to read this page for details before submitting. If you’re interested but not quite ready to submit a full application, we invite you to fill out a pre-application below. This way, you can learn more about the program and get your questions answered.
The application is at the bottom of the page and we encourage you to take some time to read this page for details before submitting. If you’re interested but not quite ready to submit a full application, we invite you to fill out a pre-application below. This way, you can learn more about the program and get your questions answered.
What is the Clinton Culinary Restaurant Incubator?
At its core, it's a supportive environment designed to help entrepreneurs launch their food businesses affordably, providing essential resources and fostering connections to vital market channels, skills, and experiences necessary for sustainable growth. Tenants of the Incubator share responsibilities for maintaining the communal space and are encouraged to collaborate, forming a robust business network to collectively expand their market reach and customer base. Within Clinton Culinary, entrepreneurs refine every aspect of their business, from menu development and pricing strategies to marketing, sales channels, recipe creation, accounting, and overall business planning and operations. Our structured arrangements minimize upfront investment and eliminate long-term obligations, ensuring entrepreneurs can focus on their culinary dreams without unnecessary financial burdens.
At its core, it's a supportive environment designed to help entrepreneurs launch their food businesses affordably, providing essential resources and fostering connections to vital market channels, skills, and experiences necessary for sustainable growth. Tenants of the Incubator share responsibilities for maintaining the communal space and are encouraged to collaborate, forming a robust business network to collectively expand their market reach and customer base. Within Clinton Culinary, entrepreneurs refine every aspect of their business, from menu development and pricing strategies to marketing, sales channels, recipe creation, accounting, and overall business planning and operations. Our structured arrangements minimize upfront investment and eliminate long-term obligations, ensuring entrepreneurs can focus on their culinary dreams without unnecessary financial burdens.
Available Suites
- Three total suites
- Two suites available
- Suites range in size from 244-388 square feet
- Rent ranges from $868-$963 per month
Flexible Lease Terms
Clinton Culinary provides flexible lease terms and subsidized rent, facilitating the transition for businesses seeking storefront opportunities. Our aim is for you to initially sign a one-year lease, with the option to extend, and eventually thrive to the point where you can expand into a larger footprint.
Clinton Culinary provides flexible lease terms and subsidized rent, facilitating the transition for businesses seeking storefront opportunities. Our aim is for you to initially sign a one-year lease, with the option to extend, and eventually thrive to the point where you can expand into a larger footprint.
What's Included in your Rent
- Shared dining area
- Shared dishwashing room
- Related chemicals and maintenance
- Electricity, water, garbage (gas in Units A & B)
- Shared fiberoptic internet (WIFI)
- Staff to maintain general cleanliness in dining area
- Access to resources to strengthen and grow your business
- Dry/Cold Storage designated area (pending)
What types of food businesses can apply? Clinton Culinary welcomes a variety of ventures, including those aspiring to open a storefront restaurant in the future, food trucks looking to transition into a fixed location, vendors from catering, farmers' markets, or festivals aiming to establish a permanent restaurant, personal chef services, packaged goods producers, and food kiosks. We are also open to exploring new business concepts and strive to ensure that our business support and kitchen facilities align well with your specific business idea.
What types of businesses cannot apply?
Due to restrictions in place from the development's financing, any store, the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises, is not eligible to apply. The sale of alcohol is permitted by the business with proper insurance and licensing but must make up less than 25% of total sales.
Due to restrictions in place from the development's financing, any store, the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off the premises, is not eligible to apply. The sale of alcohol is permitted by the business with proper insurance and licensing but must make up less than 25% of total sales.
Who is eligible to apply?
- Businesses wishing to open a business within a storefront
- We prioritize startups
- You must meet our ‘business ready’ requirements
What are the ‘business ready’ requirements?
To help you launch a successful business, it is important you have done some business preparation and planning. This means:
To help you launch a successful business, it is important you have done some business preparation and planning. This means:
- A completed application
- A written business plan
- A written menu with pricing
- Meet with our partner, Padgett Business Services, to receive a complimentary assessment of your business position and readiness to proceed
- Proof of Application/Possess State of Iowa food worker’s card to ensure you have basic food safety knowledge
- Proof of Application/Possess a valid food license
When do I apply?
You may start the process at any time and encourage you let us know you are interested. We accept new businesses as openings are available.
You may start the process at any time and encourage you let us know you are interested. We accept new businesses as openings are available.
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Clinton Culinary’s mission provides access to fresh food for those that live and work within the surrounding community. Clinton Culinary will focus on small business incubation offering new opportunities for food entrepreneurs to launch, sustain, and thrive, ultimately achieving economic self-sufficiency.
Clinton Culinary Goals
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If you’re interested but not quite ready to submit a full application, we invite you to fill out a pre-application to share your interest. This way, you can learn more about the program and get your questions answered. To fully apply, please proceed with application below and be prepared to include your business plan so we can start the review process. Finally, while technology is an incredible tool, it can sometimes glitch. If you haven’t heard back from us, please call us directly at 309-788-6311.