Jonnetta Patton is not just Usher’s mom.
Patton is reportedly coming out of retirement to start her second act. Patton founded her own independent record label JPat Management in 2008, and now she wants to help other entrepreneurs start their own businesses.
In May, she’s launching J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator–a 2,100 square-foot facility designed to help early-stage culinary entrepreneurs break into the restaurant industry. It will have four shared kitchens, a private kitchen, a baker’s kitchen, tasting room, conference rooms, and dry and cool storage areas.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best chefs and caterers in the world. In the process of working with them, they’d complain about the shared kitchens where they’d prepare for events,” Patton said in an interview with Atlanta Magazine. “I did some research and found out it’s fairly simple to open a shared kitchen.”
The facility? It was Usher’s old music studio in Atlanta, of course. People can rent space in the facility or apply to become a member. To rent the private kitchen for four hours will cost members $250 and non-members $500.
The business development program part of the incubator has a curriculum with workshops around topics such as accounting, business development, labor laws, and innovation.
Patton is targeting “culinary millennials, veterans and enthusiasts,” according to the publication, and the hour-long classes will be held once a month.
“We’re interested in those focused, committed, and passionate about those who want to use their culinary talents to own a successful small business,” she told the magazine.
