Growth Chains: PrepkitchenGrowth Chains: Prepkitchen

By Fern Glazer

HEADQUARTERS: San Diego

MARKET SEGMENT: casual

MENU: seasonal comfort food

NO. OF UNITS: 2

SYSTEMWIDE SALES: 
$2.7 million

AVERAGE CHECK: $25
LEADERSHIP: Arturo Kassel, owner and managing partner; Ryan Johnston, owner and executive chef

YEAR FOUNDED: 2009

METHOD OF GROWTH: private investors, bank loans

NOTABLE COMPETITORS: Bencotto, Craft & Commerce, Davanti Enoteca, Searsucker
WEBSITE: www.prepkitchen.com

The story behind Prepkitchen, a casual-dining concept in San Diego, sounds a little like “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” according to one of
its owners. There was lots of trial and error.


Once upon a time in the summer of 2008, Arturo Kassel was a 26-year-old beverage manager at a New York hotel. He had a hospita...