2nd & Main opens commissary kitchen for up-and-coming companies
Published on Monday, March 25, 2024 at 2:58 p.m.
NILES — A popular downtown Niles business is expanding to better meet its growing needs while providing room for other local businesses to grow.
2nd & Main, a coffee house and wine bar located at 127 E. Main St., has announced plans to open a commissary kitchen at 114 3rd St., the site of the former CJ's Pizza. The new kitchen space will allow 2nd & Main to bake its own pastries and goods while providing local small businesses with space to make their own products and foster growth.
“The community has been talking about the need for (a commissary kitchen) for years,” said Dustin Jankowiak, co-owner of Second & Main. “Every time I go to a meeting, people say, 'We used to have a store, but they closed it down,' or 'I wish we had another store.' and they will help you.”
Jankoviak discussed the commissary kitchen concept with co-owners Lea Germann and Alicia Ransbottom. When the property at 114 3rd St. opened, the three knew they couldn't pass up the opportunity.
“One of the biggest things we want to do here is support local businesses that don't have a storefront and not everyone can go to the Strip,” Landsbottom said. “We can advertise for them and say they’re here, and we can also offer their products, with some of their cheesecakes, cookies, etc. Just like our tea, we can promote it and go back and forth. I'm really looking forward to it.”
“It used to be a restaurant,” Jankowiak said. “That's why we wanted that space. We've already got the wiring done, we've got all the plumbing in there, and we've got a three-bay sink in there as well. All we have to do is install the oven and All we have to do is plug in the refrigerator and set it up for storage. … We hope this is a scenario where we can be successful long-term.”
Jankoviak said three companies have committed to join the kitchen, and there is space for three to four more. He added that the kitchen will allow businesses to partner with local schools on a long-term basis.
“I try to find different pieces in that area that complement each other,” he said. “We have a company that blends T-shirts, a company that makes freeze-dried candy, and a company that makes cookies. They're not waiting for us to finish baking or making bread. It should be fun – and I think that allows us to partner with schools long-term. ”
Jankowiak expects the kitchen to be ready for use in about 30 days, which he expects will coincide with the main store's plans to expand the hours of operation for its wine menu. Anyone interested in inquiring about the space can contact his 2nd & Main on his Facebook page or email 2ndandmain127@gmail.com.
