See how a Tri-Cities restaurant incubator is back helping chefs realize their dreams

The Pasco Specialty Kitchen — a launch point for countless Tri-Cities restaurants, food trucks and other ventures for 21 years — is no longer the “rudderless” entity that prompted a city takeover in 2023.

The commercial kitchen overlooking the Pasco Farmers Market is now run by the city’s parks and recreation department, which overhauled financial and management systems, installed new HVAC coolers and equipment and bought new kitchen gear.

Jesse Rice, parks director, reports the kitchen serves 21 clients and has capacity for 5 to 8 more.

The kitchen, he said, is again up to its mission to promote economic development and foster food businesses in downtown Pasco.

“The Pasco Specialty Kitchen is a vital asset asset for the Pasco community,” he told the Herald.

It’s a far cry from a year ago, when the now-defunct Downtown Pasco Development Authority asked the city to take over the kitchen.

Former manager Damien Davis had issued a devastating review of the kitchen, saying it had become “ rudderless ,” lacked financial controls and was even unsanitary.

Rice keeps a desk at the specialty kitchen, next to Alma Aguirre, who serves as the kitchen’s manager. He said the operation underwent a thorough review and management practices have been brought up to city standards.

Together, Rice and Aguirre are promoting a comeback that includes soliciting new tenants to take over the kitchen’s walk-up windows, where customers can order ready-to-eat meals.

The two windows face Fourth Avenue and the Pasco Farmers Market.

Both are currently vacant following the departure of the Pasco Burger Co., formed by the owners of Ciao Wagon and Cafe Trattoria.

The burger business still uses the kitchen, but gave up the window to focus on its food truck at Wheat Head Brewing Co., the new brewery and event venue in the Horse Heaven Hills.

Rice said the city is prepared to sweeten the deal for food-businesses interested in either window by adding additional equipment. It is waiting to see what if any equipment future occupants need..

For example, one window is is next to a grill and has its own vent hood, which enables frying and other activities. The other doesn’t have that equipment.

If a client needs it, the specialty kitchen will consider making the investment, Rice said.

The kitchen’s former parent, the Downtown Pasco Development Authority, dissolved this spring after a damning report by the Washington State Auditor revealed widespread management failures, illegal public meetings, dubious cash withdrawals, unaccounted for equipment and more.

Now in its 21st year, the specialty kitchen occupies a sentimental spot in the local food community, serving as birthplace for any number of popular local eateries.

It provides licensed, commercial kitchen facilities for food-related startups that are not ready to operate their own kitchens and to established businesses that prefer to operate there.

Past and present clients include Ciao Trattoria restaurant, Fast & Curryous, DeliCakes by Angelica , Brother’s Cheese Steaks, Eat Hot Tamales, Ninja Bistro, Pepper Preppers and many more.

The city is accepting proposals for the walk-up windows through July 26.

Contact Aguirre at aguirrea@pasco-wa.gov for information.

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