WHAT WE ARE BUILDING

Our Doubling Up expansion project will strengthen DC Central Kitchen’s award-winning array of programs. Our plans for taking on growing community needs are keenly focused on what we do best: 

FIGHTING HUNGER, POVERTY, AND POOR HEALTH WITH NUTRITIOUS FOODS, RIGOROUS JOB TRAINING, AND SUSTAINABLE ROOT-CAUSE SOLUTIONS.

DC CENTRAL KITCHEN MARKET

A new affordable produce market that will feature locally grown products and a brand-new fast casual salad concept!

Food Jobs of the future

Diversified, hands-on job training for careers in fast-casual, grocery retail, and commissary production.  

FOOD IS MEDICINE PROGRAMMING

Immersive teaching spaces and strategic partnerships linking nutritious local foods with relatable education and holistic health programming.  

enhanced healthy food distribution

Increased production space, additional cold storage, and enhanced equipment for the healthy food we bring to corner stores and home-bound seniors and veterans.  

WITH CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING IN EARLY 2026, WE ANTICIPATE DELIVERING THIS PROJECT IN EARLY 2027 AND RAPIDLY RAMPING UP THESE VITAL PROGRAMMING SOLUTIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE REVIEW OUR PROJECT PROSPECTUS. 

READ OUR PROSPECTUS

WHAT WE ARE BUILDING

Together, these timely innovations will allow DC Central Kitchen to prepare more meals than ever before, adapt our Culinary Job Training program to a changing regional economy, take on persistent gaps in health outcomes and economic opportunity, and support the small businesses and local farmers who are foundational to our communities.  

We are proud to partner once again with ZGF Architects to bring our values to life in the design of this addition to our Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs and Justice. The Klein Center first opened in 2023 and we have already doubled nearly every aspect of our programming. These renderings reflect years of intensive planning, program analysis, and community listening.  

DC Central Kitchen Market
This bustling produce market will feature affordable, healthy, and locally-grown items for neighborhood residents.
Salad & Smoothie Social Enterprise
This new fast-casual salad and smoothie concept will provide unique hands-on job training and quick, healthy food options.
Training Classroom
This modern first-floor classroom embedded right in our market space will allow us to train even more students for culinary careers and welcome visitors and guests to learn about our life-changing programs.
Community Counter
This community gathering space will be an area for nutrition education activations, interactive food demonstrations, and local entrepreneur product showcases.
The Perch and Workspace
This mezzanine-level area will include modular classrooms, conference rooms, teleconference booths, a wellness room, and additional workspace for staff and partners.

MEDIA AND AWARDS

Our Klein Center for Jobs and Justice and forthcoming expansion have been profiled and lauded by respected outlets like these:  

H2HC Prize for Innovation

The H2HC Prizes for Innovation identifies and highlights innovative food and nutrition work that offers promising, upstream models and replicable, scalable solutions that significantly advance health equity in communities throughout the U.S.
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DC Central Kitchen gets a ‘new start’ and new digs in Buzzard Point

DC Central Kitchen’s new 36,000‑square‑foot headquarters highlights its innovative model that tackles hunger and creates living‑wage jobs through culinary training and social enterprise.
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D.C. Non-profit CEO of the Year by the Washington Business Journal

After over a decade of leading DC Central Kitchen, Mike Curtin was recognized for his commitment to ending hunger across the District, solving social inequities, and expanding DCCK’s operations.
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