Hello everyone!
I have been frantically trying to get information concerning what is required for a commercial kitchen in NH. I was looking at a stackable convection oven - do I need a hood with that? I've seen yes, I've seen no. Am I allowed to use "regular" equipment in the bakery or does it HAVE to be commercial?
My sister works in the commercial property management business and is able to get me a beautiful location for pretty cheap - right on the main road of town where everyone will see it! It was a photography studio before this so it is not set up for a bakery, but I would really hate to pass this up!
I've got a ton of questions that I can't seem to get answers for from the HD. If anyone here is in NH and has opened their own shop, please help!
Convection ovens do not usually require a hood because there is no open flame. Some commercial equipment, such as a 3-bay sink, grease trap, ansul system, etc, is required. But usually the inspectors don't care if a business uses residential appliances like a fridge, as long as it cools correctly.
I'm sorry for your frustration. Health inspectors are usually quite busy but should still return all calls. Best thing is to call early in the a.m. before they leave for the day's inspections... Your county HD is responsible for licensing retail food establishments. If the person responsible for answering your questions is not cooperating, call and ask for the supervisor. You can also ask some of the eateries near your potential location about their HD contact info. Surely, someone can give you a name and phone number.
Have you reviewed this? DHHS website, found by Googling the phrase 'NH commercial kitchen" and this was the first source listed by Google.
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/sanitation/homestead.htm
Page 7 of this PDF, which is linked on the page I posted just above, states commercial equipment shall not be required.
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/sanitation/documents/homesteadfaq.pdf
I now see that you're looking for a brick and mortar location, not a home business. Perhaps this will help instead?
http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/fp/index.htm
Or this:
PRODUCT
COST NEW WHERE Quantity Total Bun Pan Rack on Wheels for Baking 100 Webstore.com $100.00 Business Cards 50 Guess $50.00 Business Sign (exterior) 24" lighted 8 letters 3300 Chicago Sign Group $3,300.00 Cake Pans 300 Fat daddios $300.00 Cash Register 300 Sharp $300.00 Convection Oven double stack 6676 Southbend $6,676.00 Convection Oven Hook Up Guess $500.00 Dishers/Scooper 64 Kerkes $64.00 Drying Rack for Sink 18"x 48" 100 Big Tray $100.00 Dunnage Rack for Flour 135 Kerkes $135.00 Freezer 3 Door 4000 $4,000.00 Garbage Can On Wheels 80 Kerkes $80.00 Grease Trap 400 $400.00 Grease Trap Installation Guess $500.00 Hand Sink 89 Webstore.com $89.00 Hand Sink Installation Guess $200.00 High Heat Spatulas 21.2 Kerkes $42.50 40 qt. Mixer (Berkel) 4800 webrestaurant $4,800.00 40 qt. Bowls Guess $900.00 40 qt. Slicer/Grater Attachement Guess $900.00 40 qt. Paddle Guess $400.00 Hobart Shipping Cost 40 qt. Mixer Whisk Guess $400.00 Ingredient Bins (under table) 295 Kerkes $1,180.00 Lighting 1000 Guess $1,000.00 Lighting Installation Guess $200.00 Mop 31 Kerkes $31.00 Mop Bucket 80 Kerkes $80.00 Mop Sink 200 Guess $200.00 Mop Sink Installation Guess $200.00 Induction Burner 500 $500.00 Paint for Front End 300 Guess $300.00 Pots LG. 100 Kerkes $100.00 Pots XL. 116 Kerkes $116.00 Refridgerator 3 Door 3723 Kerkes $3,723.00 Scales 30 Guess $30.00 Scoops for Ingredient Bins 10.25 Kerkes $50.00 Sheet Pans 8 Big Tray $320.00 Shelf for Wall By Mixer 11"x60" 103 Big Tray $103.00 Sink 3 compartment 458 Webstore.com $458.00 Sink Installation Soap Cleaning System (sysco) 500 Guess $500.00 Soap Dispenser 2 87 Kerkes $87.00 Spatulas 5.6 Kerkes $50.00 Stainless Steel Work Bowls Lg. 100 $100.00 Stainless Steel Work Bowls Med. 20 qt. 10.5 Kerkes $105.00 Stainless Steel Work Table 30"x60" 218 Kerkes $218.00 Storage Racks for Boxes 100 $100.00 Storage Racks For Equipment 18"x48" 100 Big Tray $100.00 Storage Racks For Food 18"x48" 100 Big Tray $100.00 Timer Ditgal 4 in 1 60 Kerkes $60.00 Towel Dispensers 2 200 Guess $200.00 Vent Hood 4275 Big Tray $4,275.00 Vent Hood Installation 4000 Guess $4,000.00 Wall Shelf For Mixer Station Water Heater 3000 Guess $3,000.00 Water Heater Installation 1000 Guess $1,000.00 Website Start-Up 1000 Guess $0.00
$46,722.50
The thing is, there's soooo much to answer to your question, I've avoided beginning. Here's my list of start up costs, as you can see it's incomplete..........but it should give you some basic ideas.
Sorry about my above post. It was the best I could do and when I tried to edit it I'd loose info.. But it should give you a rough idea of things. Believe me, that was based a bare bones start-up..........there's got to be thousands more dollars included to remodel an already existing store for a commercial kitchen. I was looking at renting a blank box store.
No! Don't delete. This is perfect! I am looking to start from the ground up myself and I only have a partial idea of what is needed.
My biggest questions are surrounding inspections, etc. but the equipment needed is very welcomed as well! Thank you for that. 
RedInLove,
Where are you in southern NH? Do you have a shop? I will be sure to come back and let everyone know how things go! I am very nervous but excited. :)
I'm looking to open just the kitchen at first, then once the business grows, I'll put in the retail area. The space I'm looking at will accommodate both and it's directly on main st. where there is a ton of foot traffic.
Thank you for your help!
My list does tell you some of what is needed. The room/kitchen needs certain basic items like what I'm listing below. Then you need the equipment and small wares specific to your type of product line.
You need: NSF certified equipment designed for easy cleaning and safety
a 3 compartment sink
a hand washing sink
grease trap
ventilation depends upon your oven type. If you use a gas oven you must ventilate in IL, if you use electric you don't have to ventilate
stainless steel tables
the walls in the kitchen need to be completely washable, I don't know the name of the board but they are plastic coated panels
floor needs to be non-porous
all food and equipment must be stored 6" off the ground on NSF certified shelf's
a bathroom
probably a handicapped equipped entrance and bathrooms
exit signs
good sealing doors so contaminates can't blow in or crawl under your doors
covered ceilings, no exposed wires or places for dust to gather and fall on food
proper wiring 220, because commercial equipment takes more outlet power then home appliances 110
The problem with answering your question is requirements vary from county to county and state to state.....even one inspector can demand something different then another in the same health department. I think you'll come up with a more comprehensive list by doing some google searching.
I made a start-up list in this thread:
Stitches,
Thank you. I've finally been able to get a hold of someone in the health department and they gave me a list of what is needed for my inspection. WOW, do I have a lot to do! It's crazy! But hopefully it'll be worth it in the end.
Thank you to everyone that has contributed. I have a habit of jumping in and hoping it all works out the way I intend it to. I guess this is one project that I'll have to take my time with!
Ok so here is what I found out when opening a small bakery in NH.
- You will need to submit a floorplan to the state. The health department can provide you with the application.
- With this application you will need to include the following:
- Proposed Menu or list of food and beverages to be offered.
- 2 copies of plans on 11x14 inch paper drawn to scale.
- The floor plan must include the following
- Location of all food equipment. Each piece of equipment must be clearly labeled, marked or identified
- location of specific areas where food is prepped
- Location of refrigeration - MUST BE COMMERCIAL REFRIGERATION IS REQUIRED. There must be adequate refrigeration and enough refrigeration space to maintain food temperatures and to properly cool food.
- Location of sinks
- Sinks required are:
- Handwashing sink.
- 3 Compartment Sink
- Food Prep Sink (only if you are having a sit-in restaurant)
- Service sink (mop sink)
- Location of toilet / restroom. At least 1 toilet is required. (does not have to be customer accessible if it is not a dine in facility)
- Location of dressing rooms / lockers for employees. (the guy told me this is not necessary and didn't even realize this was on the application)
- Location for the storage of poisonous or toxic materials
- Location for storage of clean / dirty linen
- Location of auxiliary areas such as storage rooms, basements and/or cellars used for storage or food preparation.
- HACCP plan (for specialized food processing like sushi)
- Finish Schedule (not sure exactly what this is. Still need clarification)
- Pest control plan - (again, need clarification on this as to if I am responsible or the owner of the building.
A commercial oven / range is not necessary - however, a convection oven is probably recommended. If using an electric range, a vented hood is not necessary.
This is all I have for now. I'll try to come back and update as I continue on.
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