OAK PARK, Mich. — The City of Oak Park has secured its first tenant for the Event Hub Commercial Kitchen, marking a major milestone in the City's efforts to support entrepreneurship and small business growth.

Gyzzle's Dryzzles, a Metro Detroit hot sauce company founded by brothers Jake, Zach, and Nick Gysel, will utilize the commercial kitchen to produce its growing line of handcrafted sauces and condiments. According to the brothers, the business was built around the founders' lifelong passion for sauces, marinades and bold flavors, with a focus on growing a locally based Metro Detroit brand.

The Event Hub Commercial Kitchen was created to help food entrepreneurs bring products to market by providing access to licensed, professional-grade kitchen space without the significant startup costs associated with building their own facility. The commercial kitchen was made possible in part through a $225,000 MDARD Food and Agriculture Investment Program grant, awarded to help Oak Park create a shared-use commercial kitchen and expand opportunities for local food entrepreneurs

"This is exactly the type of success story we envisioned when creating the Event Hub Commercial Kitchen," said Oak Park City Manager Erik Tungate. "Whether it's a family recipe that's been passed down for generations or a new food concept ready to grow, we want entrepreneurs to know that Oak Park can help turn those ideas into reality. We're thrilled to welcome Gyzzle's Dryzzles as our first tenant and look forward to helping many more businesses take the next step."

The city is actively seeking additional tenants and encouraging aspiring food entrepreneurs, cottage food operators, caterers and specialty food producers to explore the opportunities available.

Have a killer recipe? Grandma's famous peanut butter cookies? A third-generation salsa that's always the first dish emptied at family gatherings? The Oak Park Event Hub Commercial Kitchen can help transform those homegrown ideas into market-ready products.

The city is currently offering opportunities for qualified businesses to utilize the facility and will make on-site interviews and media opportunities available for interested business and industry publications. Officials hope the success of Gyzzle's Dryzzles will inspire other entrepreneurs to take the next step toward commercial production and business growth.

Businesses interested in commercial kitchen tenancy opportunities can contact the City of Oak Park Recreation Department for more information at eventhub@oakparkmi.gov Or (248) 691-7469.