Kirkwood signs on as anchor tenant for NewBo City Market

CEDAR RAPIDS – Kirkwood Community College has signed to become the anchor tenant in the NewBo City Market, with plans to use the space to present its continuing education culinary courses.

Kirkwood committed to a 10-year lease for approximately 1,500 square feet of the 18,000-square-foot facility.

The NewBo City Market is a year-round indoor/outdoor public market providing a venue for visitors to shop from food entrepreneurs, farmers and artisan sellers. The centerpiece of the NewBo City Market is the 18,000 square-foot Market Hall with permanent and flexible vendor stalls, and space for specialized markets and fairs.

“By placing a cooking school where visitors shop, we’ll create tremendous synergy,” said Patrick DePalma, board president of Cedar Rapids City Market Inc. “We’ll provide the community with greater access to good quality local food and teach them how to use it in healthy ways.”

“This great partnership helps Kirkwood in positioning our continuing education culinary, life and leisure classes with the NewBo City Market,” said Kirkwood Community College President Mick Starcevich in a press release. “When people look for personal enrichment, they’ll know they can get continuing education offerings, at a great facility, in addition to the varied offerings from NewBo City Market vendors. We’re pleased to join together in the downtown district.”

Currently, Kirkwood’s continuing education culinary courses are offered at various schools across Eastern Iowa.

Kim Johnson, Kirkwood vice president of continuing education and training services, said the college plans to expand its youth culinary camps, nutrition classes and culinary offerings, and develop new programs such as a young chef’s academy, culinary team-building training, and culinary certifications through the new space.

Ms. Johnson said the college is also looking at ways to utilize the kitchen for workforce training, giving youth and adults the culinary skills needed in the local workforce.

“With the waiting list for Kirkwood’s Culinary Arts program at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center, this facility will allow us to offer pathway programs that give short-term training needed to get right into the workforce, or transfer into our credit program at The Hotel,” she said.

The market will be located on an entire city block at the corner of 12th Avenue and Third Street SE, the site of the former Quality Chef plant.