Running a shared kitchen isn’t just about keeping ovens hot and ingredients stocked; it’s about managing constant movement in and out of the facility. Between tenants with different schedules, vendors making deliveries, and repair crews arriving at odd hours, securing access can quickly become a challenging aspect of daily operations. Without the right system, staff end up acting as doormen instead of focusing on their core responsibilities, and compliance with health department regulations can become harder to maintain.
That’s why more operators are turning to modern access control and security solutions. Nimbus, a flexible kitchen provider in New York City, is a prime example of how the right technology can transform a chaotic entry process into a streamlined, secure system that benefits both staff and tenants.
The challenge: 24/7 access in a complex environment
Shared Kitchens are designed for flexibility, but that flexibility comes with operational hurdles. Multiple businesses share the same facility, each with its own schedule, staff, and delivery needs. Vendors may arrive overnight, customers might stop in during off-peak hours, and repairs can’t always wait until morning. The result is a constant stream of people coming and going, often without a centralized process to manage entry.
For operators, this creates two major issues. First, staff are pulled away from core responsibilities to open doors dozens of times a day, reducing productivity. Second, compliance with health department regulations, which require kitchens to remain secure and controlled, becomes increasingly difficult to maintain when many people need access.
Nimbus faced exactly this challenge. With dozens of tenants working on different schedules, their team struggled to balance open access for customers with the need to maintain safe, secure, and compliant facilities.
The solution: Flexible, user-friendly access control
To address these challenges, Nimbus implemented ButterflyMX, a smart access control system designed to handle high-traffic environments. They began with a video intercom at the building entrance. They later added keypads to individual kitchen units, creating a layered system that gave each user the right level of access.
For shared kitchens, flexibility is key.
With ButterflyMX, Nimbus can:
- Provide temporary or recurring access to tenants, vendors, and service providers through Visitor Passes, ensuring everyone can enter when needed without compromising security.
- Control access hours to ensure kitchens remain compliant with health regulations while still accommodating 24/7 operations.
- Manage entries remotely from a smartphone, which saves staff from constant door duty and allows them to focus on running the facility.
For tenants renting private kitchen units, onboarding was quick and straightforward. As Nimbus’s Director of Operations at the time, Will Constan, explained, the ButterflyMX team helped address unique challenges and delivered a smooth installation process.
The results: Efficiency for staff and peace of mind for tenants
The impact of smart access control was immediate at Nimbus. Staff no longer had to act as doormen, freeing up hours each week that could be redirected toward supporting tenants and managing kitchen operations. Remote entry management allowed for seamless handling of late-night deliveries and unexpected vendor visits, even when someone was not physically present at the door.
For tenants, the change was just as significant. They gained reliable, secure access to their kitchens whenever needed, with the flexibility to work on their own schedules. Vendors and service providers could come and go without disrupting daily workflows, making the entire facility run more smoothly.
Perhaps most importantly, the system reassured tenants that their kitchens were secure and compliant, a critical factor in building trust with food businesses that depend on consistent, safe operations. By adopting access control technology designed for high-volume, shared spaces, Nimbus turned a major operational challenge into a competitive advantage.
And their growth didn’t stop there—read how Nimbus scaled to multiple locations while continuing to streamline kitchen operations with The Food Corridor‘s automated billing, scheduling, and document compliance features.
Looking for more practical tools to improve your own kitchen operations? Check out our Shared Kitchen Operations Manual — aligned with the latest guidance from the FDA, so you’ll be ready for anything.
Looking ahead: Scaling operations with confidence
As shared kitchens and restaurants expand, the complexity of managing access only grows. More tenants, more deliveries, and more staff create greater strain on traditional entry processes. Nimbus recognized that to scale successfully, they needed a system that could grow with them.
With ButterflyMX in place, Nimbus has expanded, from its flagship 10,000-square-foot facility in Brooklyn to nationwide growth. The same platform that streamlines daily operations today will continue to support larger facilities, more kitchens, and busier schedules tomorrow.
For shared kitchen operators, the takeaway is clear: investing in flexible, scalable access control early on ensures smoother operations as the business grows. With the right foundation, operators can focus on serving their tenants and growing their brand, not worrying about who’s at the door.
To get connected with ButterflyMX: Schedule a meeting with your local rep
