The Food Hub: Helping Food Businesses Start, Grow, and Succeed in Downtown Athens

Located in downtown Athens, The Food Hub is a purpose-built space designed to help food businesses take the next step. Whether you’re just starting out, expanding production, testing a restaurant concept, or operating a food truck, The Food Hub offers the space, flexibility, and resources to help you grow.

As we head into 2026, The Food Hub is actively seeking new production tenants, restaurant tenants, guest chefs, food trucks, and Farmers Market vendors to join this growing downtown destination.

Who we are looking for

The Food Hub is currently accepting interest from:

• Production tenants needing a licensed commercial kitchen for baked goods, packaged foods, sauces, prepared meals, and specialty products

• Restaurant tenants looking for a more affordable, flexible alternative to a traditional brick-and-mortar space

• Guest chefs interested in pop-ups, tasting menus, themed dinners, or limited-run concepts

• Food trucks seeking a reliable downtown location with added amenities

• Farmers Market vendors looking to sell local food, farm goods, and handmade products

Whether you’re testing an idea or scaling an existing business, The Food Hub is built to meet you where you are.

What The Food Hub Offers

The Food Hub provides a licensed commercial kitchen with ample room to work, store, and grow. The facility includes:

• Cold and dry storage (available for tenants and food trucks)

• Dedicated prep and cooking space

• Food truck storage, including oil dumping access

• Plenty of storage capacity, with storage fees applied separately from rent

• 24/7 access for tenants, allowing you to work on your schedule

The Food Hub is also licensed through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture for production, making it easier for food businesses to operate legally and expand into retail and wholesale opportunities.

How It Works

The Food Hub operates on a flexible-use model designed to remove barriers for food entrepreneurs. Tenants rent kitchen time and storage based on their needs, without being locked into long-term commitments that don’t make sense for growing businesses.

In addition to kitchen access, tenants benefit from shared resources, learning opportunities, and built-in marketing support through Main Street Athens.

Pricing & Flexibility

The Food Hub offers transparent, scalable pricing:

• Monthly rentals start at $250 for 10 hours per month

• Pricing caps at $1,000 per month for a full-scale restaurant operation

• Storage fees are applied separately, based on usage

• Flexible terms are available

Our goal is simple: to help your business succeed. We work with tenants to find a setup that fits their stage of growth while keeping costs manageable.

Learning, Marketing & Wholesale Opportunities

Beyond the physical space, The Food Hub helps businesses grow through:

• Learning opportunities and shared knowledge from fellow tenants and partners

• Marketing support, including features on social media and Main Street Moments

• Access to a wholesale co-op, helping producers expand beyond direct-to-consumer sales

By sharing resources and connections, The Food Hub creates an environment where businesses don’t just rent space — they grow together.

The Food Hub Farmers Market

The Food Hub Farmers Market will resume in April, taking place on the third Friday of every month from 4–7 PM. The market features local farmers, food producers, makers, and small businesses and continues to be a key gathering space downtown.

We are currently seeking additional vendors and welcome food trucks to participate during market nights. The consistent schedule and downtown location provide strong foot traffic and visibility for vendors.

Guest Chefs & What’s Ahead

In 2026, The Food Hub will host a rotating lineup of guest chefs, offering unique dining experiences for the community. Chef Chastity is already booked for the near future, with more announcements coming soon.

These events allow chefs to showcase their talents while giving the community something new and exciting to experience downtown.

Apply Now