Summit Cookhaus: A Culinary Hub in Kalispell
After a summer of searching for commercial kitchen space, Clayton McDaniel, owner of Great Northwest Catering, has found a welcoming home at Summit Cookhaus in Kalispell.
“It’s been nice to have Jake with Summit Cookhaus open up,” McDaniel said. “It’s extremely expensive to purchase or lease commercial space in the food industry here.”
Jake Kuntz, owner of Summit Cookhaus, highlighted the importance of providing kitchen space for baking, catering, and other food businesses that typically work out of home kitchens. Without a commercial kitchen, those with cottage licenses can only sell products directly to consumers, limiting their market reach.
Kuntz opened the rentable kitchen space late this summer, which occupies part of a building he co-owns with his wife, Corinne. The building also houses The Bird’s Nest Early Learning Village and the Wildtorium children’s museum.
While developing the 14,000-square-foot building last year, they prioritized investing in a commercial kitchen to meet both health department requirements and the needs of potential tenants. This included the installation of essentials like a three-bay sink and fire suppression system.
Kuntz leveraged his background in vocational rehabilitation to navigate the complexities of establishing a rentable commercial kitchen. He consulted with local caterers to ensure it was properly outfitted and learned crucial insights that aided in its design.
“It was a leap of faith,” Kuntz admitted, having invested $60,000 from his pension fund to establish the kitchen. Since obtaining their license in July, they have welcomed eight tenants.
The kitchen features multiple workstations, including a baking area equipped with a professional stand mixer, convection ovens, and a commercial dishwasher. Kuntz also offers a range of storage options to accommodate tenants’ needs. Renting starts at $23 per hour, with discounts available for higher usage.
In addition to the kitchen, an event space is available for rent, aimed at culinary entrepreneurs looking to host dinners, teach classes, or test products.
Kuntz aims to keep the kitchen affordable by consulting local culinary professionals to set rates. “I’d rather have more businesses being successful in my kitchen than hammering a few businesses on an overpriced product,” he noted.
As a result, the kitchen has attracted a diverse range of tenants, including food truck owners and bakers, eager to create culturally infused dishes. Kuntz enjoys witnessing the success of these local businesses and takes pride in their growth.
For craft caterers like McDaniel, the Summit Cookhaus is not just a workspace; it’s a supportive, community-focused atmosphere. “This isn’t an outside corporation. Jake has done a great job of building this out,” McDaniel emphasized.
To learn more about Summit Cookhaus, visit summitcookhaus.wixsite.com/summit-cookhaus. The commercial kitchen is located at 120 Financial Drive in Kalispell.
