Julie Unger
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
What if a kitchen could be more than a place to cook...What if it could build community?
Meet Julie Unger — a local entrepreneur, community builder, and food educator who has turned her love of cooking into something much bigger for Melrose.
For Julie, the kitchen has always been her happy place. Inspired by her dad’s cooking and time spent making ethnic dishes with her grandmother, she learned early on that food isn’t just about nourishment — it’s about connection, culture, and joy.
But what makes Julie truly remarkable isn’t just that she runs a business — it’s why she started it.
With a background in community organizing and event planning (not culinary school), and after leading the Melrose Farmers’ Market for 8 years, Julie saw firsthand how food brings people together. She also saw what was missing — a welcoming space where people could gather, learn, and connect.
That insight became the foundation for everything she built.
With the support of mentor Diana Wenberg, who helped build a business plan and secure a small business loan, and a building owner willing to believe in her vision, Julie brought that idea to life.
Today, she is the founder of The Kitchen — a vibrant community culinary space in Melrose.
The Kitchen is more than a cooking school. It’s a place where:
- Everything is customizable to bring people together
- 25–35 hands-on classes are held each month, plus summer camps for kids
- Private events come to life — from dinner parties and birthdays to bachelorette celebrations and team-building events
- Fundraisers, educational programs, and meal prep classes that make an impact
You’ll also find Julie popping up around town — at the farmers market, Victorian Stroll, and local spots like Hannah’s — continuing to connect the community through food.
What makes The Kitchen special:
- It’s built around connection, not just cooking
- It welcomes all skill levels
- It introduces kids to new foods and skills in a fun, low-pressure way
- It teaches nutrition and lifelong skills
Julie’s vision is simple but powerful: Food becomes the excuse — but community is the goal.
Like any entrepreneur, the journey hasn’t been easy. From navigating the complexities of running a commercial kitchen (hello, grease traps and fire suppression systems!) to managing a growing team, Julie has faced challenges head-on.
And she’s built something special.
Her team includes talented, collaborative chefs — and even three teen chefs who now teach classes, sharing their skills and confidence with others.
In just a few short years:
- The Kitchen opened in 2023 in the former Seven Hills Pasta space
- It has hosted hundreds of classes and events
- Julie earned a small business grant to expand into mobile classes and pop-ups
- She continues to collaborate with local chefs, farmers’ markets, and women-owned businesses
Julie is a single mom, balancing the demands of business and family while continuing to give back — presenting at career days, mentoring young people, and showing kids that cooking is a life skill they’ll carry forever.
One of her proudest moments? Hearing that kids go home and cook for their families.
Her favorite program, “Cooking for a Cause,” teaches participants how to cook while donating meals to local food drives — turning learning into giving.
And when she’s not in the kitchen? You’ll find her playing in a recreational soccer league, traveling, and taking cooking classes around the world.
Julie is celebrating The Kitchen’s 3rd Anniversary — and you’re invited! Join the celebration on May 8 from 4–7 PM at Hannah’s.
Julie Unger represents a new kind of leadership—one that blends entrepreneurship with heart, and business with community.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can build...starts in a kitchen.
