25 to watch in 2025: Meet the engine driving a Northside food business incubator

Editor’s note: The Herald-Leader is profiling 25 people we expect to make news in 2025.

Who: Adina Tatum, executive director of the non-profit Northside Common Market and the community incubator Market Kitchen.

Background: Tatum has managed the Julietta Market’s transition from Greyline Station to a collaborative pop-up that continues to nurture burgeoning food businesses. From her office above DV8 Kitchen at The MET throughout 2024, she steered the Market Kitchen through challenges including getting health department approval for hourly tenants with a unique system that meets safety requirements in an affordable scale.

Why 2025 will be memorable: “We could not be doing better,” Tatum said. “We’re at full capacity at our kitchen, we just started a contract with God’s Pantry to do 500 meals a month through a grant, and brought on a few of out tenants at the kitchen to prepare those meals.” The program launched in October and will run at least through next September.

Through a Whole Cities Foundation grant, Tatum and the kitchen will be teaching another year of monthly free nutrition-focused community cooking classes, offering excess meals to the unhoused community, she said.

“We’re focused on inexpensive and quick meals that teach people about nutrition and safe knife skills.” Last year’s classes had about 75 participants each first Sunday, she said.

What others say about Tatum: “She’s showed true leadership, she’s a gem,” said Alison Jackson, associate director, Board + Community Relations for Bluegrass Community Foundation. “We work a lot with the Northside Market, her leadership is … I can’t even put into words, the amount she has put into the community, her dynamic leadership, community-focused, bringing people together to rally for the support for the organization she serves and others.”

Jackson said Tatum even helped other non-profits max out their matching funds by rallying supporters.

Why is 2025 such an important year for you and your organization?

Tatum is quick to hype the food entrepreneurs who have bloomed from the original Julietta Market, such as Thea’s Bass & Biddy Kitchen, Rayann’s Popcorn and Papa Pretzel, who are now full-fledged Greyline tenants in their own right.

But she wants even more success stories. “We’re going to just keep pushing forward and working,” she said. “The Market Kitchen incubator is showcasing a vibrant spirit and economic opportunities.”

The market will be continuing collaborations with Arthouse, Community Ventures and Gallery Hop to put on East End Nights in 2025. She also plans to continue events such as an empanada-folding night at the kitchen to help food entrepreneurs. They get to showcase their talents and learn how to better interact with the public. “It is unique what we offer,” she said.

Next up: “I’d love to get a Julietta Market food truck, get them outside and mobile.”

This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 3:00 PM.

Janet Patton

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-5233

Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription