Use the Kitchen

Culinary Commons

Culinary Commons / Use the Kitchen

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Contact Us

Judicial and Law Enforcement Center

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 am - 5 pm

Email: Email Us

Phone: 785-393-4556

Fairgrounds Rental Office

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8 am - 5 pm

Email: Email Us

Phone: 785-832-5296

Use the Kitchen

If you’re a farmer or food entrepreneur, you want to focus on developing your recipe, market, and business model—not worry about the upfront capital costs of an expensive commercial kitchen and equipment! Families and community groups can also use the kitchen to prepare big meals, have a canning party, or other non-commercial uses.

Designed in 2005 as part of the renovated shared commercial kitchen project, Culinary Commons provides space for farmers and food entrepreneurs to:

  • add value to their products
  • extend their product line and season
  • and build their small business in a safe, certified environment

Four Steps for Approval

Equipment Overview

The client has exclusive use of this equipment for the time reserved. To make use of the small wares in the security storage unit or locked cabinets, contact Fairgrounds Maintenance Crew to unlock at (785) 393-8130.

View the Equipment

More Info

  • 60” Electric Range with 6 burners and 24” griddle
  • One Electric Convection Oven
  • One Commercial Microwave Oven, 1000 watts
  • One Mobile Bun Pan Rack
  • One 20 qt. Food Mixer
  • Five Stainless Steel Work Tables
  • Wire Storage Rack
  • One Dish Machine
  • Tilting Kettle, Steam Jacket Design, 25-gallon capacity
  • One Three Compartment Sink

  • Two One-Compartment Sinks (one with food disposal and sprayer)
  • One 54” Refrigerator
  • One 45.9 CU FT Glass Door Merchandiser Refrigerator
  • One 27” Freezer
  • One 48” x 18” Pan Prep Table
  • One Hand Sink
  • One Soiled Dishtable (with food disposal)
  • One Ice Maker
  • A notebook with the Equipment Owners’ Manuals
  • A restroom and a cleaning supply closet is located directly north of the kitchen

Clients should bring all small wares such as utensils and scales, cookware, bake ware and disposable items, such as plastic wrap, foil, sheet pan liners, towels, test strips etc. It is the responsibility of each client to bring their own ingredients. No personally-owned or rented gas fired appliances will be allowed in the culinary commons kitchen.

Cleaning and Supplies

Each client is responsible for cleaning the kitchen as part of their kitchen use including all countertops, cabinets, equipment, tables and floors. The Culinary Commons Incubator Kitchen will supply all the necessary cleaning supplies. A trash dumpster is located east of Building 21.

All clients are required to empty their trash from the kitchen. If the kitchen is not clean upon inspection after client use, the aforementioned deposit of $150.00 will not be refunded.

Culinary Commons features a Storage Unit filled with small wares. To access, approved clients must be granted permission by contacting the K-State Research and Extension – Douglas County Office at (785) 843-7058.

Approval Process

Step One

Kitchen Tour

A tour of the kitchen space (693.25 sq. ft.) is required prior to rental, so you know if the space meets your needs and are introduce to food safety and state food business licensing topics. To schedule a tour, contact K-State Research and Extension–Douglas County at (785) 843-7058.

For a virtual tour of our Culinary Commons incubator kitchen visit:  https://youtu.be/H9x8_K4VQag 

Step Two

Policies and Application Form

The Culinary Commons Incubator Kitchen, when rented as a shared-use kitchen for entrepreneurs and small business owners, is for production purposes only—such as food cooking and preparation for catering events or food processing. Sales of food and products produced in the Kitchen must happen at off-site retail locations or immediate service at approved events.

On-site vending is only allowed when associated with a pre-approved major or special event happening in conjunction with Building 21 rental, the Community Arena, the Open Pavilion, or the Flory Meeting Hall Rentals, such as concessions at the Douglas County Fair and auctions. Clients must seek approval from Douglas County Maintenance Department before conducting any sales from the Culinary Commons Incubator Kitchen, Building 21, or elsewhere on the Fairgrounds property. Failure to comply with this policy will result in temporary or permanent revocation of the client’s approved application.

Step Three

Business License

With your application, please include a copy of your business’s Food Establishment License or Food Processing License, if applicable, from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. For more information on rates and the process of obtaining a business license from KDA, visit the Division of Food Safety and Lodging.

Note: Once licensed, all food products that are produced for public consumption must be produced in the Culinary Commons kitchen (or other KDA-approved commercial kitchen). It is unlawful to produce foods in a private home kitchen for sale to consumers (including farmers markets), or for distribution to other business entities such as food establishments, food warehouses and other food processing plants. KDA will communicate with the Culinary Commons kitchen management to ensure licensed operators are returning on a regular basis to produce their products.

Step Four

Liability Coverage / Insurance

Douglas County provides two levels of use for the Culinary Commons Incubator Kitchen—one that requires general liability insurance and one that does not. Note: Neither level includes coverage for product liability insurance.

  • Usage 24 or fewer times per year: The County’s general liability coverage will cover your use. However, the County’s insurance provider reserves the right to seek payment for damages should an accident occur.
  • Usage more than 24 times per year: You must provide a certificate of insurance showing current comprehensive general public liability coverage with respect to the Douglas County Culinary Commons Incubator Kitchen, having limits of liability for bodily injury, death and property damage of not less than a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence, with $2,000,000 total coverage. This certificate of general liability insurance must list Douglas County as additional named insured.