The Macotta Club

The 2024 National Restaurant Association Show always has innovation on the menu! Spanning over 12 football fields, The Macotta Club team was able to see, taste, and experience the latest flavors and products before they hit the market! We enjoyed access to over 2,300 vendors as we prepare for the opening of The Macotta Club and its innovative programming.

We're excited to announce that our logo, designed by the talented team at Redhead Creative Consultancy, has been awarded a Professional Gold ADDY in the 2024 American Advertising Awards! 🏆🎉 Hosted by The American Advertising Federation (AAF) and AAF Lansing, the ADDYs recognize excellence in all advertising corners.🚀

The Macotta Club was thrilled to host leaders from across the state for Michigan Economic Development Corporation and LEAP's Lansing Small Business Support Hubs Celebration yesterday. The Macotta Club is a collective experience coming to Downtown in Fall of 2024 and was created through the support of incredible partners, many of which you will see in the selected hubs.

Was it Mom/Grandma/Great Uncle Ted’s lifelong dream to open a restaurant? Have you got a book full of family recipes that are begging to be shared? The Macotta Club is here to help. The Macotta Club was designed to provide culinary entrepreneurs with the resources and business know-how to get their ideas off the ground. Joining our incubator kitchen program puts those family dreams within reach. We're accepting applications for participants now – apply today! macottaclub.com/apply

A question we get a lot is “What does Downtown Lansing Inc. have to do with The Macotta Club?” and we'd love to tell you! The Macotta Club concept was born out of interest received from Middle Village Micro Market as more and more food-based businesses were looking for a low-risk way to expand their business and grow their brand, without jumping right into a brick-and-mortar space. Downtown Lansing Inc. created The Macotta Club as an incubator-model solution to help culinary entrepreneurs discover their potential and, simultaneously, demonstrate the potential of Downtown Lansing with a dynamic, lively atmosphere. Downtown Lansing Inc. raised funding to kick off The Macotta Club and manage the lease, build out the space, and get the idea running, but the Macotta Club will operate as its own business entity. Read more about The Macotta Club’s inception on our website: https://www.macottaclub.com/faq

You can’t tell from the outside, but a lot of interior work has started rolling in our future home, the historic Knapp’s Building. We’d had architects, electricians, and equipment vendors in and out of the building helping us get the restaurant ready, while also helping us preserve pieces of this beloved downtown staple. To learn more about our mission, visit https://www.macottaclub.com/about

Thanks FOX 47's Morning Blend for having Julie Reinhardt, Director of Downtown Community Development at Downtown Lansing, on to talk about how restaurant owners can participate in The Macotta Club and give a small peak of what's to come next year.

The Macotta Club - 10/16/23 Julie Reinhardt, Director of Downtown Development for Downtown Lansing, Inc talks about how Lansing is getting a new eatery next year, The Macotta Club

Just because 2024 is around the corner, that doesn't mean 2023 can't still be your year. Make this year the year you finally start the culinary business you've always dreamed of, with the help of The Macotta Club’s incubator kitchen. The Macotta Club's incubator kitchen will help culinary entrepreneurs grow and develop the resources, experience, and clientele needed to expand to a permanent location. We're accepting applications for participants now – see whether you might be a fit and apply today: https://www.macottaclub.com/apply

Know anybody who makes amazing samosas or perfectly fried gobi manchurian? We're on the lookout for an Indian food restaurateur to participate in The Macotta Club. Send them our way so they can learn more about how the program can make their dream a reality: macottaclub.com/apply

It might not look like much, but this is our big, beautiful loading dock. Before you know it ingredients will come through its bay door, and someday soon will come out of the kitchen on a plate to you.

Missed our first wave deadline, but are still interested in participating at The Macotta Club? You're in luck – we still have a handful of spots open for restaurants and food trucks, so we’ve decided to extend the deadline for our incubator kitchen program. If you were on the fence about applying, we still have spaces available and would love to talk through how the program works and how we could support you in the growth of your culinary business. You can learn more about the support services our program has to offer for culinary entrepreneurs here: macottaclub.com/apply

“You should sell this stuff!” Heard that one before? Whether it’s your famous sauce or signature pastries, The Macotta Club can help you share your culinary creations with the world.

As part of our 2024 cohort of food entrepreneurs, you could start selling your food products in a retail space at The Macotta Club in Downtown Lansing. We’ll also provide you with growth supports to help get your business rolling, like:

• A state-of-the-art commercial kitchen
• Business programming and partnerships
• Marketing and brand support
• A chance to test the market and build your fan base

Don’t wait – apply today. macottaclub.com/start-your-business

Sixteen food concepts. Six restaurant options. One historic space. The Macotta Club is a dining destination spotlighting the best of our community's up-and-coming culinary offerings.

Always dreamed of opening that restaurant, food truck, or catering business? Are you a rising restaurateur looking for the perfect location? As part of The Macotta Club, you can launch your idea in an affordable, business incubator environment.

We’re now seeking participants for our first cohort of culinary entrepreneurs in 2024. Located in Downtown Lansing, The Macotta Club will offer food startups with a place to build a solid foundation through a 24-month program. Participants receive:
• Restaurant space in a food hall environment
• A state-of-the-art commercial kitchen
• Business programming and marketing support
• Below-market-rate rent and reduced startup costs
• A chance to test the market and build your fan base

Apply today: macottaclub.com/start-your-business

Sixteen food concepts. Six restaurant options. One historic space. The Macotta Club is a dining destination spotlighting the best of our community's up-and-coming culinary offerings.

There's still time to apply for our incubator kitchen program! We’ve been reviewing applications as they come in and meeting with potential program participants, so don’t wait to get your application in. There’s a limited number of spaces available in our inaugural cohort, so even if you’re on the fence, fill out the interest form and we can chat about whether The Macotta Club would be a good fit for your culinary concept: macottaclub.com/apply

We believe that food is community. With numerous food concepts and restaurants all under our roof, The Macotta Club will be more than a space to grab a bite – it will bring together different dishes, different stories, and different perspectives to Downtown Lansing. Want to play a part in making it happen? Check out our sponsorship opportunities: macottaclub.com/investors

Did you know that the Knapp’s Building is home to another delicious food business? We’re excited to have Sweet Encounter Bakery & Cafe as our future neighbor. Sweet Encounter is a gourmet bakery specializing in scrumptious, made-from-scratch, gluten-free, and peanut-free desserts. Stop by the next time you’ve got a sweet tooth that needs satisfying!

Calling all rising restaurateurs: We’re now accepting applicants for our first cohort of culinary entrepreneurs in 2024 at The Macotta Club. Located in Downtown Lansing, The Macotta Club will offer food startups with a place to build a solid foundation through our 24-month program. You bring the food skills, we’ll bring the business know-how.

Apply today: macottaclub.com/apply

Sixteen food concepts. Six restaurant options. One historic space. The Macotta Club is a dining destination spotlighting the best of our community's up-and-coming culinary offerings.

So you've got a big idea for Lansing’s next great fusion restaurant. You've got piles of recipes. Your friends say "you should sell this stuff!" But, still, the business side might feel impossible to tackle. That's exactly what The Macotta Club can help with; providing our cohort of culinary entrepreneurs with the business-know how to get their ideas off the ground, and to make these dreams attainable. We're accepting applications for participants now – apply today! Link: macottaclub.com/apply

Food is a way of showing love – across cultures and across communities. We're so excited to give our food makers a place to share their creations with the world next year.

Opening that food truck you've always dreamed of isn't out of reach. The Macotta Club's incubator kitchen will help first-time culinary entrepreneurs develop the resources, experience, and clientele needed to expand to a permanent location. We're accepting applications for participants now – see whether you might be a fit and apply today: https://www.macottaclub.com/apply

Who remembers this staircase from the Knapp's department store days? We loved these “before” photos of the giant staircase in the center of what will be our dining area. It’ll be a little while before there are any “after” photos, but we thought you might enjoy this peek behind the curtain.

“You should sell this stuff!” Heard that one before? Whether it’s your famous sauce or signature pastries, The Macotta Club can help you share your culinary creations with the world.

As part of our 2024 cohort of food entrepreneurs, you could start selling your food products in a retail space at The Macotta Club in Downtown Lansing. We’ll also provide you with growth supports to help get your business rolling, like:

• A state-of-the-art commercial kitchen
• Business programming and partnerships
• Marketing and brand support
• A chance to test the market and build your fan base

Don’t wait – the deadline for our first call for participants is September 15. Let’s get cooking. macottaclub.com/start-your-business

Sixteen food concepts. Six restaurant options. One historic space. The Macotta Club is a dining destination spotlighting the best of our community's up-and-coming culinary offerings.

Starting a restaurant can be pricey — unless you partner with The Macotta Club, of course.

The Macotta Club — a new dining destination coming to Downtown Lansing in 2024 — will give restaurants, food trucks, and food makers a chance to get their concepts off the ground with reduced startup costs, before branching out to a permanent location. As part of our 24-month program, you can build your business without breaking the bank. You bring the food skills, we’ll bring the commercial kitchen, dining space, business know-how, marketing, partnerships…the list goes on.

Interested? Our deadline for applications is September 15. Learn more and apply today: macottaclub.com/start-your-business

(The costs listed here represent a broad average for first-time restaurant owners, and estimations for those as part of The Macotta Club. Actual amounts vary.)

Sixteen food concepts. Six restaurant options. One historic space. The Macotta Club is a dining destination spotlighting the best of our community's up-and-coming culinary offerings.

Always dreamed of opening that restaurant, food truck, or catering business? Are you a rising restaurateur looking for the perfect location? As part of The Macotta Club, you can launch your idea in an affordable, business incubator environment.

We’re now seeking participants for our first cohort of culinary entrepreneurs in 2024. Located in Downtown Lansing, The Macotta Club will offer food startups with a place to build a solid foundation through a 24-month program. Participants receive:
• Restaurant space in a food hall environment
• A state-of-the-art commercial kitchen
• Business programming and marketing support
• Below-market-rate rent and reduced startup costs
• A chance to test the market and build your fan base

The deadline for our first call for participants is September 15. Apply today: macottaclub.com/start-your-business

Sixteen food concepts. Six restaurant options. One historic space. The Macotta Club is a dining destination spotlighting the best of our community's up-and-coming culinary offerings.

Ready to grow your food business to the next level? Whether your next step is a food truck, carry-out service, store shelves, or a sit-down restaurant, The Macotta Club could be a good fit for you.

We're looking for interested entrepreneurs to join our first cohort of culinary entrepreneurs. As part of a 24-month program, culinary startups are able to establish a foundation before expanding into the larger Lansing and mid-Michigan market. At the conclusion of the program, entrepreneurs will have the resources, experience, and clientele needed to expand to a permanent location.

We already have a number of businesses interested in being a part of this space, and limited space is available — apply today! https://www.macottaclub.com/apply

Wondering what the we mean when we say The Macotta Club will have an "incubator kitchen"?

An incubator kitchen is an accessible space where local entrepreneurs can develop their food-related businesses. This includes all of the resources of a commercial kitchen, with equipment like ovens, grills, and deep fryers in a large, sanitary workspace. This offers a soft launching point to test flavors, build brands and clientele.

Food entrepreneurs will be able to curate resources, experience, and the fan base needed to expand to their permanent location upon completion of the program. These makers will bring their talent, and The Macotta Club will bring the equipment they need to take their ideas to the next level.

Check out our FAQ page to learn more: https://www.macottaclub.com/faq

Calling all entrepreneurs! Join Mr. Leslie's Cheesecakes as he talks about his small business journey. We can't wait to learn how he brought his business from a dream to a reality! Sign up today https://www.eventbrite. Capital City Market Allen Neighborhood Center Goodfellas Bagel Deli

Built in 1937, the Knapp's building has long been a major landmark in the downtown neighborhood. It's a privilege to breathe new life into this space and we're excited to share some construction updates soon!

(Photo: Capital Area District Libraries)

Think you might want to get involved with The Macotta Club? We're looking for interested food entrepreneurs! This Saturday is our third free how-to class, “Launching a Food Business in Lansing: Information Night'' at 2pm. This class will specifically be for culinary entrepreneurs interested in learning more about The Macotta Club's 24-month incubator kitchen program. Before you attend, fill out this form so we can get to know you: macottaclub.com/apply

We hope to see you there! https://fb.me/e/1g3vE2Bwp