Tasty Hub owner Gabriel Long (center) and Eureka Mayor Kim Burgel (holding a large pair of scissors) attend a grand opening ceremony on Monday, July 8. Photo by Carly Wipf, courtesy of the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce.
Sitting at a dining table in his new, empty-but-technically-open store, Gabriel Long explained what Tasty Hub will become in the coming months: a community-oriented dining scene with regular vendors gathering in the parking lot and a dining area inside, but also a venue for food-related community events, teach-ins, or whatever events people envision for the space.
But the new eatery kitchen in north Eureka, which officially opened on Monday, isn't finished yet. The kitchen itself is fully stocked and ready to go; it just needs a chef.
Have you noticed this new sign heading north on the 101? Photo: Jacqueline Oparachi
Long's operation is the foundation of a plan that relies on other local businesses to operate, and it's up to existing players and new entrants in the mobile food industry to make Tasty Hub's vision a reality.
A commissary kitchen is a commercial kitchen available for rent, typically used by food trucks, vendors, caterers, nonprofits, and other food-related businesses. These “mobile food facilities” (usually) legally rely on a commissary kitchen to operate. There are several commissary kitchens in Humboldt, but the recent food truck boom in the area has created a demand for more commissary kitchens.
That's one of the reasons why Long, who also owns A Taste of Bim and Grind Cafe, decided to open Tasty Hub. “I've always heard, 'We don't have enough kitchens,'” Long said. “'Kitchen, kitchen, kitchen.'” Long noted that Commissary Kitchens are a resource for people who want to get into the food industry but don't have the capital or resources to get in the old-fashioned way.
But Tasty Hub is a little different to your typical commissary kitchen: Not only do they have access to facilities and storage space, food vendors can get permission to sell food on-site if they wish.
“The goal is to build community because we are stronger together than we are apart,” Long said. “What better way for people to come together and help each other and work in a place where they can uplift and thrive.” Long is excited about the high-traffic location and is pleased to have been able to restore the unique building, which was once the longtime home of Chalet House of Omelettes but has been vacant since 2020.
“It's always good when you can take something like this and turn it into a positive thing and turn it into something that people can use and benefit from,” Long said.
The Tasty Hub building at 1935 5th Street is very stylish. Photo: Jacquelyn Opalach
Long said he hopes Tasty Hub will be a safe space for underserved communities like people of color and the queer community.
That hope could come in the form of a partnership with Pathways of Purpose, a local nonprofit that facilitates learning programs for underserved transition-age youth ages 16 to 24. Dr. Suzanne Salley, who co-founded the organization with her husband, Aelin Monroe, in 2021, said they are considering adding job-training programs to the nonprofit's services.
“We think this will be a fantastic place to teach transition-age youth about culinary arts, cultural foods, knowledge and healthy eating, all of which ties into our model,” Sarley says. “And because my husband is a farmer, we're also looking at potentially creating a garden where they can learn about farm-to-table practices. So we see really great potential with this location and our partnership with Tasty Hub.”
Long and Thurly noted that these ideas are still in their early stages. For now, Tasty Hub (itself a for-profit business) needs to get off the ground and up and running. At this point, it'll be up to people in the food industry, newcomers or veterans, to get on board.
Long said the kitchen can be rented by the hour or people can enter into a long-term lease with Tasty Hub. There will be overnight parking space for three food trucks, and other vendors, such as food stands, can store their equipment on-site. Once their application is approved and all the necessary paperwork is completed, people will be able to use the kitchen, sell food on-site or schedule other cool food-related activities at Tasty Hub. Three businesses have already started the process.
Long said people should email atasteofbim@zoho.com or call (707) 298-7099 to apply, and keep an eye out for the Eureka Chamber of Commerce newsletter next week for more details on how to apply.
“Now is your chance to make what you've always dreamed of a reality,” Long said. “I can't wait to see how this program will help you bring your business ideas to fruition.”
