Resident Opens Business to Give Entrepreneurs a Space to Create

Windham resident Neelima Gogumalla has a pretty simple business model for her brand new start-up in Derry – she'll provide the kitchen space, you just have to bring everything else.

So goes the strategy for Creative Chef Kitchens, or as she describes it in her tag line, "A Business Incubator for Foodies."

Gogumalla's kitchen rental facility, located in a plaza on Manchester Road just off Route 28, offers an ideal space for bakers and caterers who don't have the space at home.

"A typical customer is someone who has a home-based business and is at the point where they're large enough to move of of their home but small enough where they can't yet," Gogumalla said.

The unit, which she leased out on Oct. 1, was once a local Thai restaurant. Gogumalla said she only needed to spend a few minutes in the location before she decided it was the right fit.

Gogumalla said the business took about three months to outfit because everything had to be gutted. The former restaurant did leave behind an expensive 12-foot hood, the one item that Gogumalla will put to use.

There are also 10 separate stainless steel kitchen stations, each with table space, sinks, baking racks, cooking appliances, refrigeration space, ovens and pantry storage. One other employee will help Gogumalla with daily operations, a woman named Mohini Durgampudi.

A business wishing to use the space has to have a license and be certified by the town. They need only rent a space out for a minimum of one hour, but a baker or caterer can come in and rent the entire room out if they desire. A $25 hourly rate is charged for each individual space.

Gogumalla also believes the unique location will serve as a place for restaurants to test out recipes. Space is also available for $50 per hour for classes in the room adjacent to the kitchen space.

She originally sought to open up shop next to a restaurant in Windham, looking at the space next to The Common Man where Coffee Roasters Cafe used to be situated.

But given the food-heavy nature of Creative Chef Kitchens, Derry being a self-inspecting town was the major draw. In a town like Windham, Gogumalla said a business would have to wait two weeks to get in and get cooking.

"This is somewhat unique," she said. "There are community kitchens out there, I'm trying to see if I can commercialize it."

Creative Chef Kitchens will host a formal open house on March 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those wishing to visit are invited to take a tour of the facility and even sign up to use the kitchen at promotional rates.

For more information on the business, visit their website.