Coworking in the Cookery: Shared Commercial Kitchen Opens in Salem

SALEM, N.H. — Side by side in their commercial kitchen space on Main Street, Rosa Martinez-Reynoso chopped a head of lettuce while Alexis Reynoso squeezed limes in preparation for a catered event.

The couple, set to be married Saturday, have been cooking and sharing Latin food in Salem for five years in an effort to bring more diverse flavors to the community, Reynoso said.

Last week, Martinez-Reynoso and Reynoso celebrated the grand opening of their commercial kitchen space, Main St. Prep, designed to help local food entrepreneurs like themselves launch or expand their businesses without the commitment of a long-term lease or the burden of large upfront costs.

While Reynoso manages the kitchen and deals with clients, Martinez-Reynoso runs the business’s social media and uses the space to make empanadas for her own business, Empanadas Deluxe 603.

Including Empanadas Deluxe 603, there are five businesses using the space to meal prep, bake, cook and even host cooking classes for all ages. Reynoso is looking to take on three to four more clients.

Other businesses using the space include JWheelsMeals, The Learning Nest, Zoipop Greek-inspired popcorn and Rise Pizza.

“We’re not here trying to make money off of small businesses starting up,” Reynoso said. “We own a small business, so we understand how much money goes into it and all the responsibilities and challenges that come with building a small business. We want (clients) to know that we’re a full support system for them and that’s what differentiates us from other shared kitchens.”

The space can accommodate up to three chefs or bakers at one time, but business owners also have the option to reserve the space for themselves and employees for larger meal preps or functions as needed.

“We’re here to be a stepping stone for them so that they can reach the next level of the business,” Reynoso said. “Some of them are starting from the ground up and some of them have only been in business for maybe a few months. They’re all at different levels and we want to support them.”

Though Martinez-Reynoso and Reynoso closed their first Salem restaurant nearly four years ago, they have put their equipment to use in the commercial kitchen for themselves and clients, while also running the Empanadas Deluxe 603 food truck at specific events and functions, Martinez-Reynoso said.

“We’re just all over the place in New Hampshire, offering the same food that we had in our brick and mortar,” Reynoso said. “It’s very convenient for us and we can take events as they come; I don’t let it affect our family or my full-time job at the fire station or in the military.”

Raising four children together, Martinez-Reynoso and Reynoso wanted the flexibility to choose spending time with their family over operating a full-time restaurant and the operation of both the food truck and the commercial kitchen provides that.

“Our main concept is the empanadas because they’re handheld, they’re tasty and they’re an overall crowd pleaser but we’ve expanded the menu little by little, so we now offer rice bowls, taquitos, loaded fries and during the wintertime, we offer our own hot chocolate mix,” Martinez-Reynoso said.

Growing up cooking with her mom, Martinez-Reynoso knew she’d always work in the food industry, she said. Born and raised in the Dominican Republican, she sees food representing community and unity.

“That’s what I grew up with,” she said. “As I got older, I just started eating at different places to taste the different flavors. I took my background from my family and kind of made it my own and started writing down recipes.”

Coming up this holiday season, Empanadas Deluxe 603 will be selling empanadas at the Holiday Parade in November and at Tuscan Village as part of a pop-up event over the course of several weeks, with a new flavor each week from steak and cheese to their famous Thanksgiving gobbler.

Main St. Prep can be reached at 978-390-6790.