Local Kitchens, a growing virtual restaurant concept, is opening its portfolio wide for new and improved locations across Northern California.
Co-founder and CEO Jon Goldsmith said the company completed a renovation of its Mill Valley location last week as part of the San Francisco-based chain’s evolution beyond its initial pandemic-inspired takeout model.
Opening in May 2022, the 1,700-square-foot former Starbucks coffee space at 741 E. Blithedale Ave. has been refreshed to be “warmer and more welcoming” for on-site customers, with more seating capacity to accommodate groups and families.
The upgrades are part of a larger $40 million investment that Local Kitchens recently secured to fuel its expansion plans in both Northern and Southern California, TechCrunch reported on June 25. The Series B funding round was led by General Catalyst, along with other existing investors Human Capital, Pear VC and DoorDash co-founder Stanley Tang.
In addition to the $28 million Series A round that included NBA star Steph Curry and his food entrepreneur wife, Ayesha, Local Kitchens has raised $75 million to date.
The company currently operates 13 locations. The first opened in Lafayette in 2022. The other Marin County location, located at 880 De Long Ave. in Novato, opened in February of last year.
While the company doesn’t have any new North Bay locations in the works at this time, Goldsmith is looking to continue expanding its presence in the area, noting that communities in Marin and Solano counties have been “very pleased” with Local Kitchens’ offerings. The other location near the North Bay is in Davis, just north of the Solano County line, at 500 1st St., Suite 13a.
What sets Local Kitchens apart is its collaborative approach with participating chefs and restaurants, Goldsmith said. Rather than operating like a traditional “ghost kitchen” that simply rents kitchen space, Local Kitchens offers a revenue-sharing model that allows chefs to grow their brands and reach more customers without the overhead of running their own brick-and-mortar locations.
Goldsmith also highlighted Local Kitchens’ use of technology, including custom software and AI-powered tools, to increase efficiency in its multi-brand kitchens. This allows the company to maintain high quality standards and minimize food waste. Even before California’s $20 fast-food minimum wage went into effect, employees at the chain earned more than that and received tips on top of their base pay, he said.
Kyle Doherty, CEO of General Catalyst, explained to TechCrunch why the funder decided to double down on its investment in the company when other virtual kitchen concepts have struggled recently:
“Even after years of growth, meal delivery has proven to be a sustainable trend, but customers are still forced to sacrifice the factors that make dining out enjoyable and choose between high-quality food and good service,” Doherty said. “Local Kitchens accomplishes what other meal delivery models have failed to do: meet customer experience preferences, drive unmatched efficiency, and create a solution that delights consumers, chefs, and local communities.”
Moving forward, Local Kitchens is set to launch a new Mediterranean-inspired brand later this month, developed in partnership with a “world-renowned” chef, Goldsmith said. It will be available in Mill Valley, Novato and other locations.
Jeff Quackenbush covers wine, construction and real estate. Contact him at jquackenbush@busjrnl.com or 707-521-4256.
