News June 2026 · Episode 36
Paul sat down with the One Clarence podcast for an hour on development, innovation and the importance of third spaces — the places that aren't home and aren't work, where a town actually happens. CCK takes up a good chunk of it.
Three things from the episode
Why the Northtowns needed a kitchen. Before CCK, an aspiring food business in this part of the county had two options: rent an entire restaurant storefront, or cobble hours together from fire halls and church basements. Neither is how you test an idea.
The subscription model. We modeled CCK on a streaming subscription rather than a rental: a flat monthly membership, a set number of hours in a 24/7 kitchen, free storage, and the county or state license that lets you legally sell. Low barrier in, no lease, cancel anytime.
The graduation path. Because CCK sits inside a family real estate company, a member can go from a few hours a week to their own storefront — and we can help them find it. The Muffin Man, Snack Bandit and Millie's Ice Cream have all done exactly that.
It's not a one-man show, even if you're a sole proprietor. You rely on the village.Paul Stephen
Listen on Spotify. Thanks to the Clarence Family Support Center for having us.