CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Unexpected construction permit complications which were caused by the actions of a previous evicted building occupant, have temporarily slowed plans to open a second commercial commissary kitchen in Carmichael, said Alan Liddawi, owner of Yalla Yalla Bakery and Restaurant in Citrus Heights.

“It’s an unexpected setback, but we’re still looking forward to opening soon,” he said.

A news story written by the Messenger Publishing Group in late fall about Liddawi’s plans to build out his 4,500-square-foot commissary/commercial kitchen space at 5800 Madison Ave in Carmichael quickly produced a long list of new prospective clients who were ready to sign contracts to get started, he said.

“They’re still eager, and ready to go once I do open,” he said.

If you visualize a restaurant without a visible storefront or even dining space, that’s the general concept behind a “ghost kitchen,” a growing phenomenon which enables a chef or team of cooks, all using the same shared rented commercial kitchen space, to prepare dishes for direct sale, or through online food orders using third-party apps like Grubhub, UberEats, and DoorDash.

Local head “ghost”, Liddawi, watched his Citrus Heights Mediterranean restaurant business steadily grow throughout 2022, while renting out his adjacent commercial commissary kitchen to multiple users on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Its commercial success in Citrus Heights led Liddawi to find a second new kitchen space, double the size of his existing facility to meet client demand.

Buildout of the Madison Avenue location was halted in late fall when Sacramento County building and health department inspectors stepped in and put a sudden stop to Liddawi’s expansion plans.

“I’ve had to spend an additional $25,000 in construction expenses to satisfy Sacramento County’s requirements to correctly re-install a kitchen range hood system which was originally done by the previous business owner without a permit,” Liddawi said.

Undeterred, Liddawi said he’s spent over $200,000 on equipment and physical improvements to the space and sees a return on his investment in the near future.

Ovens, coolers and freezers, dough mixers, stoves, a professional-grade juicer and barbecue grill are in place. The facility also features bulk shelf or pallet food storage, cold, frozen, and dry storage.

“The (Carmichael) location is ideal to the needs of an individual chef, baker, caterer, Farmer’s market food vendors or a food truck owner who needs a well-appointed kitchen space with modern equipment to handle timely food preparation,” Liddawi said.

Delana Treadway, a single parent, who owns a self-sustaining, five-acre farm, and runs her own catering business, The Ranch Girl Friday, will manage the new Carmichael facility.

“I’m still very excited for Delana Treadway to manage it,” Liddawi said.

Using local ingredients, Treadway makes gourmet BBQ for delivery. The Amador County barbecue caterer specializes in local farm to fork barbecue. While waiting for the Madison Avenue kitchen to open, Treadway continues to book her catering business, The Ranch Girl Friday, through social media.

Visit www.facebook.com/TheRanchGirlFriday/, call (209) 584-4497, or email [email protected] for booking or more information.

Installation crews will return to the Madison Avenue job site to wrap up the installation of kitchen counters, preparation tables, shelf storage and commercial refrigerators once the county of Sacramento building and health department signs off final permits, Liddawi said.

Call Alan Liddawi, owner of the Yalla Yalla Bakery and Restaurant at 7800 Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights at 916-560-8228 for rental information or visit: www.ghostkitchen4rent.com for further details.