POCATELLO — Dude’s Public Market, a food hall style business in Historic Downtown Pocatello that also acts as a space for entrepreneurs of all varieties, has expanded and added four new kitchens to its space, inviting interested food ventures to move in.
Currently, only Glean Coffee Roasters permanently reside within the market, but with the addition of two cold kitchens and two hot kitchens, there may be an opportunity for the space to include restaurants that serve meals throughout the day.
“Three of the kitchens will be a long-term space,” said Jim Young, owner and operator of Dude’s Public Market. “We're looking for bakeries, businesses doing breakfast-related products, lunch products and different baked goods. We're looking for some long-term tenants, people who want to start their own restaurant, but don't necessarily have the capital that is required to stand alone.”
In addition to opening three kitchen spaces for curious entrepreneurs in the food industry, Dude’s Public Market will offer a fourth commissary kitchen for residents that simply need a space to operate. According to Young, the Idaho state commissary kitchen is not currently accepting any more lease spaces.
“There currently isn't a public space for anyone who needs a commercial kitchen to cater or to (create) certain food products," Young said. "There's not really any option. We're looking forward to being a cost-effective place for new food companies' product ideas to start and grow out of.”
Young is hopeful that potential business newcomers will have a symbiotic relationship with the other vendors and organizations, creating plenty of opportunities for the success of everyone involved in the market.
“We're looking for vendors that are willing to collaborate with other vendors in the space because the power of Dude’s Public Market, which is a food hall or food court concept, is it allows multiple businesses to market together and to bring traffic in,” Young said. “That’s where we see the power in our numbers. The goal of these public markets is to be a starting point and endpoint for anyone who's spending time in Historic Downtown Pocatello.”
Part of the inspiration behind creating a site where burgeoning restaurants can grow and flourish is Young’s aspirations to work as a food scientist. Through that endeavor, Young would collaborate with small food startups, create new menu items and food processing products all while providing the tools needed to engage in these experimental projects.
“What's unique about Dude's is we have the ability to get people in quicker than commercial leasing space for kitchens, because we have communal seating and we take care of the infrastructure,” Young said. “All that anyone who comes in has to do, any of our future vendors and current vendors, is create great food and good drinks and we help with the rest.”
As Historic Downtown Pocatello continues to grow, it appears that there are plenty of new opportunities for local businesses to expand and become integrated with a warm and welcoming downtown collective that only wants the best for its friends and neighbors.
“We're grateful for all the help and all the support that the community and historic downtown has already given us,” Young said. “We're looking forward in the decades to come of being a staple of the historic downtown community and be a (fixture) for not just food business, but for art and for community events. That's where we see ourselves, as being part of the community and continuing to grow in the future.”
For more information on Dude’s Public Market, you can visit them at 240 S. Main St., or contact them through their e-mail info@dudespublicmarket.com .
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