Exploring Ghost Kitchens

A Cost-Effective Solution for the Culinary Industry

by Yu Ying Yuen

Ghost kitchens are on the rise, especially since the onset of COVID-19, when many restaurants shut down due to lack of customers and the incurring costs of running a storefront. You might be wondering, what is a ghost kitchen? It’s similar to renting a room, except it’s a kitchen. Who knew? Ghost kitchens can be a place to prep food for restaurants that don’t have their own space, or they can be used as additional space since some storefronts don’t have enough room in their own kitchen. Even big chains like McDonald’s or MrBeast Burger use ghost kitchens in their franchise according to “More And More Restaurants Are Turning To Ghost Kitchens During The COVID-19 Pandemic,” Delish. I always thought that when you ordered something on DoorDash, drivers would go to individual restaurants to pick up orders. Then I realized that some of those restaurants on DoorDash don’t have their own storefront at all, they’re just online businesses who rent ghost kitchens to make the food!

Ghost kitchens seem like a great addition to the culinary industry, especially for up-and-coming businesses looking for a budget-friendly space option or testing out ideas. Many businesses have switched to online only, which can make it easier for customers to access their products. Why waste so much money to buy or lease a whole storefront and risk going bankrupt, when you can just rent out a kitchen? You wouldn’t risk losing huge sums of money, plus your bills, subscriptions, and costs would be lower. You have so much less to worry about. I’d say it’s a smart idea, since you can work in a larger kitchen and it’s more sanitary to work in a commercial grade kitchen than to just cook in your own home. Not only that, it’s a great legal way to sell your goods. Ghost kitchens are innovative ways for entrepreneurs worldwide to run their food businesses, and start up slowly without taking on a huge risk which could impact their whole future.