Every caterer needs a kitchen, and every food truck needs a place to spend the night. Marry these concepts together, and you have a unique enterprise that serves two entrepreneurial audiences. “BAKR” — Bay Area Kitchen Rental was created by Kathy Hernandez in Fremont when she herself was looking for such a space.

Not only did Hernandez find that space was in short supply for mobile chefs, but she also discovered that many food truck commissaries lacked basic business-oriented amenities — a place to receive deliveries, prepare food, refill ice supplies, hold interviews and team meetings, compost and recycle materials, as well as a decent place to use the restroom.

Hernandez purchased a 20,000 square foot facility in South Fremont just over a year ago, and now can hardly keep up with demand. Food trucks in particular (who are no strangers to long lines) have a waiting list for space in her facility. Not surprisingly, Hernandez is already in expansion mode — creating larger cold and dry storage areas.

Anywhere between 20 to 30 caterers utilize BAKR at any given time. They rent space by the hour, with a guaranteed minimum of 10 hours a month. Some clients are actually small restaurants that need additional prep space. As a 24×7 facility with online scheduling, BAKR can accommodate many different needs.

BAKR’s Fremont facility is significant for two reasons. First, it provides critical infrastructure for the incubation of new food concepts that will hopefully expand and grow in our area. Second, the concept demonstrates the creativity of our talented population who can adapt existing ideas into powerhouse institutions.

We wish Kathy much success with BAKR, and hope to see her business grow along with our local creative talent.