Awn Kitchen’s Moving!

It’s official, Awn Kitchen is expanding to a commercial space on the south side in 2021! 2020 will be a year for us all to remember, that’s for sure. Like so many, I have been on a roller coaster of emotions. At the start of the pandemic I really tried to focus on the good, perhaps too much, to avoid thinking about how the pandemic derailed a dream I had been working so hard on for so long, I then felt a tad sorry for myself, but picked myself up and got back into it with a new appreciation for how lucky I am to do something I love.

Towards the end of every year, I start to think about what it was like the year before, and for the last five years, I seem to reflect a lot on how much a simple decision started this journey. Six years ago, I was finishing university and eagerly waiting to head off to Ireland to attend culinary school. I’ve said it so many times, I never thought that journey would bring me here. Five years ago, I started the business out of my parent’s home kitchen with a plan, but not a set plan as to what was next. I quickly started to dream as my business grew. In November of 2018 I put pen to paper for the first time with a drawing of an idea for a commercial space and a few words about what that space would look like. In February of 2019 I met with my relator with a long list of “musts” for what the space would be… In October of 2019 we found a space, on December 5 of 2019 I signed an offer to lease… Early in 2020 the planning started, I rebranded from the Ruby Apron to Awn Kitchen (read about that here) and made an announcement that Awn Kitchen was expanding to a brick and mortar. We all know what happened in March of 2020.

As I was set to sign the lease the pandemic shifted things to a life of unknown – I didn’t know if my business would survive, let alone be in a place to move forward. I felt all kinds of emotions, and tried to stay positive, which didn’t always happen. I didn’t want to lose the space I had found that hit all of those musts, that we had plans drawn for, I pivoted to keep the business going. I found strength in my support system and my clients, I found inspiration through watching other businesses pivot, and of course in that dream that I have had for so long. I used the time over the summer to refuel, to think, to plan, to dream, to feel. The goal of expanding was always a goal of building a space that was adaptable, COVID-19 encouraged that dream even more, so I used the time to change a few crucial bits of the plan. I signed the full lease last week, and can’t wait to bring to you Awn Kitchen Workshop and Café in the spring of 2021. Be sure to follow along on Facebook and Instagram for updates, to hear more about what I have planned for the space, and watch it being built. The demo is starting next week, I get the keys on December 1 and that’s when the real work starts!