After four years of growth, the Mickle Center Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen is now operating independently from the Wallace Centers of Iowa. Since opening in 2017, the MC Kitchen facilitated the launch of 46 small businesses in the Des Moines metro—a very diverse group of food entrepreneurs distributing food thru farmers markets, food trucks, direct to consumer, caterers, retail, food co-ops, events and more. Staffing for these businesses range from 2 to 20 employees.

The goal of the Mickle Center Kitchen is, and will continue to be, providing an affordable space for food entrepreneurs to start their business, test a concept or become a food processor. The ultimate goal is growth. Dinner Dispatch became the first business to grow into their own production space. After a year and a half at the Mickle Center Kitchen, we could no longer handle all of their storage needs—they got too big! This is a great thing.” –Mary Kapler, Mickle Center Kitchen Manager

We’re celebrating this change as a win-win-win for everyone involved: the kitchen, the food entrepreneurs, the local food scene, and the building’s owner, the Neighborhood Investment Corporation. The partnership between WCI and NIC was an “incubation” itself. Similar to the success of the businesses that outgrew the MC Kitchen, NIC has outgrown its need for a partner to accomplish the work.” — Deb Houghtaling, President & CEO, The Wallace Centers of Iowa.