North Minneapolis food entrepreneurs have a serious upgrade on the way. NEON's Collective Kitchens, a full-scale commercial kitchen incubator, is slated to open in May 2026 and is billed as a major new engine for neighborhood businesses. The two-story facility is set to occupy roughly 25,000 square feet on West Broadway. It will include private kitchens, a consumer-packaged-goods production area, and street-facing retail stalls with round-the-clock access. NEON leaders say the project is designed to remove barriers for Black and Northside food businesses that have long lacked affordable, nearby commercial prep space.
According to KARE 11, the nonprofit has scheduled a grand opening for May 2026 and expects the Collective Kitchens to serve roughly 80–90 businesses per day and up to 200 a year. NEON President Warren McLean told the station the incubator's goal is to remove barriers to entry and help entrepreneurs of color scale their operations. The report also noted that the project includes five retail spaces and a dedicated CPG production area.
What’s inside the building
NEON's project page describes a roughly 25,000-square-foot facility with private and shared production kitchens, two catering prep rooms, a dedicated CPG production space, five street-facing retail stalls, and a conference room that fits about 100 people. The nonprofit is advertising 24/7 access and "state-of-the-art" equipment for tenants. The building contractor's project page from Mortenson states that the core program includes seven built kitchens with space to add three more as funding becomes available. Together, those spaces are intended to support food trucks, caterers, small manufacturers, and test-kitchen uses.
Funding and timeline
Funding for the project combines philanthropic gifts, corporate partners and public financing, and the Star Tribune previously put the project's price tag near $21 million. The Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal reports that New Markets Tax Credits and local lenders, including Sunrise Banks, helped close financing gaps. Local reporting and partner materials place construction and outfitting on a late‑2025 to early‑2026 timetable as the nonprofit lines up tenants and programming.
Why entrepreneurs say it matters
Food vendors on the Northside say the incubator fills a long‑standing gap. Many operators have been driving long distances for compliant kitchen time or paying high rents outside the neighborhood just to keep their businesses going. "We have been looking for a long‑term kitchen solution. So, this would definitely help with our operation," Michael Feng of BianDang told MinnPost. Other operators told local reporters that the combination of kitchen, retail and packaging space could open new revenue streams and provide a visible storefront for neighborhood customers.
How to join or rent space
NEON is taking expressions of interest and plans to announce anchor tenants and lease terms ahead of the May opening, according to its project site. Operator packages are expected to range from hourly rentals to monthly memberships and reduced‑rate incubation with advising for early‑stage food businesses, while third‑party rental listings show sample hourly and package pricing for prospective tenants. For membership details and inquiries, see NEON's project page and third‑party rental listings such as The Kitchen Door.
