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Section III: Market condition survey <br />Introduction <br />The original aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for incubators within <br />the City of Ramsey. The models proposed were a culinary incubator designed to grow <br />and support food businesses, and a co -working space in which potential tenants may <br />operate. In order to decide on potential final recommendations, it was determined that <br />tenant and talent interviews were necessary for the purpose of narrowing the scope of <br />recommendations. Interviews were conducted to identify potential partners, tenants, and <br />talent supply. These interviews were conducted via email, and potential case studies for <br />future examination were identified from initial email contact. Further, we wished to <br />determine interest and theoretical activity levels for the culinary incubator. Obtaining <br />interviews were relatively difficult, however, and more thorough case studies will be <br />necessary for future research. <br />Local restaurants <br />The overarching theme of interviews conducted with local restaurant -owners was <br />the lack of commercial kitchen and storage space for their business. Home -based <br />caterers often cannot produce enough of their goods to justify expansion; however, they <br />require increased production space to grow their production capabilities. Through our <br />research process, we identified a number of caterers within Ramsey, as well as a <br />number of restaurants in the general area. Comments regarding the potential of <br />partnering with or expanding to an incubator included the following: <br />• Potential incubator amenities: <br />o "I would look for meat processing equipment, packaging equipment, and <br />combi ovens along with office space and a loading dock" <br />o "...the current building needs Tots of updates (kitchen floor & walls, some <br />equipment is very old, we need a turbo oven for efficiency, etc..." <br />o Separate clean space to prepare foods for sale and not take up actual <br />space in the front of house <br />• Regarding expansion: <br />o I am comfortable running only one location. It would be too much stress <br />running more, since I do all the handiwork myself. <br />o My business has huge growth potential already but I can't do everything <br />myself. <br />• Disadvantages in current location: <br />o Too crowded, not enough space to work and keep enough product on <br />hand to sell <br />13 <br />