In 2013, Meredith Chartier started a meal prep company. She knew that she needed a commercial kitchen, so she began searching for space. She struggled, however, to find licensed kitchens available in the area. Meredith ended up settling on kitchen spaces that required long commutes to reach, offered limited space and lacked the basic amenities that any food business renting kitchen space should be provided in order to succeed. She knew that she was not the only food business facing these limitations and became determined to find a space that would accommodate the unmet needs of local food makers in her community.
In 2014, Meredith leveraged her husband’s real estate expertise, Chartier Group, and started the search for Bellamy Kitchen’s permanent home. Together they found the property, demoed the existing building, and built the new structure that exists today.
Looking Ahead…
Meredith feels proud to have created a home for food businesses of all sizes. From start-ups that need guidance with paperwork, to established businesses looking for temporary space while they plan for expansion, Bellamy Kitchen welcomes businesses with a desire to connect and work with others in the community.
In 2019, the kitchen was granted the US Green Building Council NJ LEED Project of the Year Residential Community Inclusiveness Award. This local community is what makes Bellamy Kitchen a success, according to Meredith. She loves to create connections between Bellamy Kitchen clients, local officials, small businesses, community groups, and event organizers.
Meredith’s goal is to help the businesses that start in Bellamy Kitchen to grow and add to the amazing community that exists locally in Union City, and throughout Hudson County.
Words of advice from Bellamy Kitchen…
“Trust your instinct, it’s always right.”
