February 24, 2015 – Ask any long time Santa Cruz resident about the original India Joze and you will likely see a warm, nostalgic look come over their face. Stories about the restaurant, which was really more of a gathering space and a nexus for the community until it closed in the late 1990’s, run vast and deep in this town. So the fact that Food Lounge—a combination commercial kitchen, business incubator, event space, pop-up venue and artisan marketplace—has taken over this legendary location at 1001 Center Street in the Santa Cruz Art Center seems like a natural evolution.
Chef Andrea Mollenauer and Food Lounge partners Cat Hernandez and Sally Kane are embracing that history. In fact, they are already thinking about having an India Joze night, with the famed chef making an appearance and cooking up his characteristically vibrant food. That neighborly sense of collaboration is exactly what they hope to encourage at Food Lounge. It seems less about launching a business venture and more about actualizing their vision of a community-focused hub for food, art and entertainment.
“I don’t want to be the whole show, I don’t feel the need to be the caterer of every event,” says Mollenauer, a popular instructor in the county’s ROP culinary arts program who will soon be teaching her students in the Food Lounge kitchen.
With 6,500 square feet to play in—a space that was home to the Center St. Grill for the past decade—Food Lounge boasts a gigantic commercial kitchen and it has not been difficult to attract like-minded food entrepreneurs. Many of the initial Food Lounge tenants are jumping over straight from Andrea’s former Front Street Kitchen. Mutari Chocolate, Mortal Dumpling, Fogline Farm and the new Ocean2Table community supported fishery are a few food businesses that will be active on Center Street.
“I didn’t really solicit anyone, I was just excited about the idea,” she says. Hearing plans about the new space and having experienced the welcoming vibe of her former kitchen, the new tenants knew it was a no-brainer.
Although there are no plans for a grand opening, and the kitchen space is yet to receive its final inspection due to gas and plumbing delays, Mollenauer says the event calendar is filling up.
They have already had a few sneak peek events, such as the recent Santa Cruz Socialites “Dream Big 2015”, a private Chinese New Year party and the Team Women SPARK event.
Event Santa Cruz is hosting its Brew Talk night on Wednesday, February 25th at Food Lounge and will surely draw a crowd, if not for the beer themed discussion, featuring eight speakers from our local brewing community, live music and small bites, then for a glimpse at the spacious new digs. As spring gradually unveils itself, so too will Food Lounge.
About the author
Amber Turpin is a freelance food and travel writer based in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
