Is Swansboro set to become a new Food & Beverage District? With the latest announcement of the new food incubator Hatch Kitchen RVA, plus the prior news of the food & beverage hall at the Siegel’s development…it sure looks like that could become a possibility.

Hatch Kitchen RVA will be a commissary kitchen with access to shared kitchen equipment, dry and cold storage, and potentially even a canning/packing line down the road. The food incubator also plans to provide access to resources in the form of mentors, investors, and the opportunity to collaborate with peers.

And this is no pipe dream. Austin Green of Texas Beach Bloody Mary Mix and Brad Cummings who founded Startup Virginia are behind the venture, while Lynx Ventures is providing the building and financing. Given the strong team, Hatch has already secured an anchor member in the form of Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches. Here is what Richmond BizSense had to say about the Nightingale’s announcement to join Hatch:

“Owned by husband-and-wife duo Xavier Meers and Hannah Pollack, Nightingale makes from-scratch ice cream sandwiches, currently wholesaling to over 100 vendors throughout Virginia, the Carolinas, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Nightingale currently produces its ice cream in a commercial kitchen in Henrico, and Meers said they had been looking for space in the city when they heard about Hatch.

‘We love the idea of being with other small businesses there, where we can go and learn from each other,’ Meers said.

Nightingale, which often collaborates on flavors with local breweries like The Answer, Vasen and Hardywood, is at maximum capacity for production in its existing space. Meers said it plans to bring on some staff once moved into Hatch.”

Swansboro should be an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurs to set up as it has multiple light industrial zoning areas that are currently un-used or underutilized. That means affordable rents and development opportunity within the city of Richmond with convenient access to VCU, Downtown, Manchester, The Fan, Woodland Heights, and Westover Hills only minutes away. It is no coincidence that the first Ukrop’s, what was once Richmond’s largest grocery store at Siegel’s, and numerous tobacco manufacturers all set up shop in this once thriving area.

Here’s to hoping that Swansboro’s Hatch brings creativity, jobs, and capital south of the river!

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