The first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy is poised to change lives from scratch, introducing the concept to the Mountlake Terrace neighborhood in Seattle
Little Kitchen Academy (LKA), the first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teen – is expanding its footprint in the U.S. as they announce their first location in the state of Washington in the vibrant Mountlake Terrace neighborhood of Seattle, which is expected to open early 2023. LKA Terrace Station will be opened by Hale View Partners, LLC, led by Michael Silver, Seth Johnson, Shivani Seastone, and Whit Carlberg. Silver serves as both one of the partners in LKA Terrace Station and as the LKA Area Representative for Oregon and Washington, supporting the development of 33 locations across both states. A passionate philanthropist, Silver will donate all franchise proceeds to his charity, Silver Linings, which will provide scholarships to disadvantaged kids and bring programs to underserved schools and communities. The quickly growing concept was founded by Montessori-trained culinary innovator Felicity Curin; her husband, proven global brand and franchise expert and serial entrepreneur Brian Curin; and social impact investor and entrepreneur, Praveen Varshney, to provide a safe, inspiring, and empowering space for children to identify, develop, and refine their senses. LKA currently has 240 locations in development toward its target of 423 globally by 2025.
“We were so impressed by LKA’s mission and their approach to learning. It’s so exciting to find a concept that can teach so much more than just cooking. We know that LKA also assists children in building confidence, developing their own mind, and learning important life skills,” said Seastone. “The Montessori philosophy is inspiring to our team, and we are excited to share the gift of Little Kitchen Academy with families in Seattle.”
The newest Little Kitchen Academy will be located at 24015 Van Ry Boulevard in the Mountlake Terrace neighborhood of Seattle at the prestigious Terrace Station development.
“Michael, Seth, Shivani, and Whit are impressive, purpose-driven people who care deeply about LKA’s values, and we are excited for them to bring the gift of Little Kitchen Academy to the State of Washington,” said Brian Curin, co-founder/co-CEO, and President. “Their experience combined with their dedication to providing the next generation with the tools necessary to succeed makes them the perfect team to open our first location in Seattle. We are confident that they will have an important, long-lasting impact on their community as they begin changing lives from scratch.”
LKA’s Montessori-inspired environment is organized to support the growth and development of each child. Instructors show the students how to safely use tools, but step back to closely observe the independent work, only stepping in when deemed appropriate. This approach enables students to learn at their own pace while they acquire practical life skills that foster independence, confidence, and socialization. LKA further empowers students to make better food choices, to apply age-appropriate math and science skills in real-world settings, and embrace practices such as recycling, composting, and the concept of philanthropy in order to make positive, socially conscious contributions to the world through its recently announced global philanthropic initiative, “How Can I Help,” which empowers students to learn about giving back and making a difference by putting the choice in their hands to support one of three notable causes.
Little Kitchen Academy offers its franchise partners and staff the opportunity to truly make an impact, blending an innovative, purpose-driven concept that transcends cultures, languages, and geography. The brand is currently seeking like-minded multi-unit franchise and development partners throughout the United States. In Canada, there are limited opportunities in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario, and globally, Australia, Brazil, China, Columbia, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Japan, MENA Region, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, and the U.K. are markets available for development.
For more information about Little Kitchen Academy’s franchise opportunity, visit littlekitchenacademy.com/about/franchise/.
About Little Kitchen Academy
Little Kitchen Academy is the key ingredient for an independent child. The first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teen is focused on providing a safe, inspiring, and empowering space for children to identify, develop, and refine their senses. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the concept was co-founded by proven global brand and franchise expert and serial entrepreneur Brian Curin, his wife, Montessori-trained, culinary expert, and visionary Felicity Curin, and social impact investor and entrepreneur Praveen Varshney, on the belief that by empowering children with practical life skills and knowledge in a positive and joyful environment, they and their company will effect positive lifestyle changes that result in a healthier world. True to its mission, LKA lives to create a more educated, able, and healthy society through mindful, healthy eating choices, and is committed to changing lives, from scratch to consumption. Part of that mission includes empowering students to learn how they can make the world a better place through How Can I Help by Little Kitchen Academy, LKA’s signature philanthropic program, supporting Crisis Text Line, The Global FoodBanking Network, Kids Help Phone, and One Tree Planted. In addition to charitable partnerships, LKA has forged strategic global brand partnerships with Iron Chef Cat Cora, AeroGarden, BIRKENSTOCK, ChefWorks, Emeco, ChopValue, Welcome Industries, andPRISE Inc.. Little Kitchen Academy’s flagship venues are located in Vancouver, B.C., and Los Angeles, Calif.
For a taste of Little Kitchen Academy, visit littlekitchenacademy.com or join its communities on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.