The Lila’s Kitchen Story
Wendy Davis has spent most of her life in hospitality, working in places like her hometown of Seattle, as well as Lake Tahoe, Tucson, and even Alaska. She’s worn many hats over the years—forest firefighter, law enforcement officer, and co-owner of a custom home construction business. Nearly 25 years ago, she found her forever home in Port Townsend, where she met her husband Brent, and together they’ve been building dreams—both in homes and in the community—ever since.
Brent Davis came to Port Townsend in 1997 to attend the Wooden Boat School and decided to stay. With decades of experience in custom construction from Connecticut to California, he founded Brent Davis Construction, Inc. in 2010. While building a commercial space in the Port Townsend Business Park for their construction company, they dreamed up something more—a place where food lovers could bring their vision to life.
So, Lila’s Kitchen was born. Named after their beloved dog Lila, it opened in early 2020 with the idea of offering a shared commercial kitchen for caterers and local food makers. But then the world changed with the pandemic. Wendy and Brent quickly pivoted, turning Lila’s into a welcoming space where vendors could safely serve food to the community. Whether for takeout or under the large red canopy outside, people came—and so did hope.
Since then, the impact has been huge:
Three new businesses were created on-site.
Four vendors successfully changed their business models and kept going strong.
One vendor even opened a brick-and-mortar location after gaining momentum here.
Several vendors have already won awards for their food!
Lila’s is more than a kitchen—it’s a springboard, a support system, and a family of passionate food entrepreneurs.
Meet Our Founder
Wendy Edwards Davis is the heart behind Lila’s Kitchen. Her vision for the space is rooted in more than just food—it's about creating opportunities, fostering community, and making people feel seen and supported.
What drives Wendy is the belief that everyone deserves a chance to grow something meaningful. Whether you're a seasoned chef launching your next venture or a home cook with a dream, she’s built Lila’s to be a place where ideas can take root and thrive. Her thoughtful leadership shows up in quiet ways: offering advice when someone’s struggling, encouraging first-time vendors, or helping someone reimagine their business path.
Lila’s Kitchen reflects Wendy’s values: community over competition, purpose-driven work, and lifting others as you grow. Her dedication is what makes this space so special—and why so many food entrepreneurs are proud to start their stories here.
Our mission
At Lila’s, our mission is simple:
To support food entrepreneurs by providing an affordable, fully equipped commercial kitchen space where creativity, community, and culinary dreams can grow. We believe in second chances, fresh starts, and building something real—from scratch.
