The Incubator opens this fall as dynamic new addition to Hey Day Market

An exciting student-driven concept where student innovation meets culinary passion is hitting the Hey Day Market as the multi-concept food hall prepares to welcome The Incubator — a launchpad for future chefs, entrepreneurs and hospitality leaders set to open Monday, Aug. 18 coinciding with the start of the fall semester.

Presented by the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management, The Incubator is a unique concept where culinary science students are the focal point and given freedom to showcase their culinary creativity while gaining real-world business experience in a dynamic, hands-on setting.

The first concept to launch under The Incubator umbrella this fall will be Pasta Bari at The Incubator — featuring fresh pasta bowls made with customization and true Italian culture in mind.

The innovative fast casual restaurant concept will provide a consistent, visible platform to spotlight student innovation and offer hands-on business and hospitality experience. From food preparation to point of sale, students will gain a deeper understanding and real-world experience of the management and execution of day-to-day operations in a fast-casual setting.

Stacy Brown ’99 Auburn alumna, founder of Chicken Salad Chick and co-owner of Botanic, sponsored the incubator space as a donor with a desire to support young entrepreneurs as she remembers her early days of launching a business.

“With this incubator space, students can safely and legally test their ideas, get feedback and determine what they need to change,” said Brown. “It’s just a wonderful opportunity to help develop real businesses and I’m thrilled to be part of it. To be an alumna and to contribute to the community of Auburn University that helped me experience some professional success is an honor.”

“We are especially thrilled to translate our sponsor Stacy Brown’s generous vision and financial support into a reality, and we very much look forward to her first visit,” said O’Neill. “I have no doubt this space will inspire and nurture many successful food entrepreneurs for years to come and will make Stacy and the Auburn community very proud.”

Offered at great value, Pasta Bari at The Incubator will function like the other units within the Hey Day Market food hall following the same hours of operation.

Some of the menu items featured at Pasta Bari at The Incubator include crafted pasta classics made to order such as signatures Pesto Casarecce, Cacio e Pepe, Bolognese, Nonna’s Pomodoro and build your own pasta options.

For the hospitality management program, The Incubator represents yet another step in realizing the vision for a forward-thinking, student-centered approach to hospitality management education while also aligning with the Hey Day Market’s goal of bringing people together.

In the future, The Incubator will rotate different foodservice concepts offering a diverse range of cuisine and opportunities for further creativity, food production and menu development.