DV8 Kitchen

What DV8 Kitchen does

DV8 Kitchen is a privately held, founder-owned food and beverage company headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, founded in 2017 by Rob and Diane Perez. The company operates two restaurant locations — Broadway (867 S Broadway) and East End (594 E Third St) — that serve breakfast, lunch, and bakery items while functioning as a 100% second-chance employer for individuals in early recovery from substance use disorder. The core product is the restaurant and bakery itself, supplemented by catering, private event venue rental, a wholesale bakery, branded merchandise, gift cards, and the Soulfull Enterprise consulting arm that licenses the second-chance employment model to external organizations. The associated DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with its own board of directors, runs the bi-weekly life-skills workshop curriculum.

The underlying technology stack is commodity restaurant and e-commerce tooling rather than a proprietary platform: Aloha Online Ordering for takeout, Square for the merchandise storefront at dv8-merchandise.square.site, CardFoundry for gift cards, Clutch for the loyalty program, Mailchimp for the DV8 Digest newsletter, and Jotform for the jobs application form. There is no proprietary software, no AI/ML layer, and no public API or SDK. The differentiated 'technology' is operational and social — the recovery-home partnership network (Shepherds House, Chrysalis House, Hope Center, Refuge for Women, and others) that supplies the employee pipeline, the workshop curriculum covering interviewing, finances, conflict resolution and guest services, and the 100% second-chance staffing model.

DV8 Kitchen makes money through a diversified but small-scale revenue mix: per-item restaurant and bakery sales priced $0.60–$13.95 across both locations, catering and private events (full-service menus including passed appetizers, salads, sandwiches, mains, and desserts), wholesale bakery distribution, online merchandise and holiday boxes via Square, digital gift cards, Soulfull Enterprise B2B consulting, royalties/proceeds from the 'Deviate From Denial' book, and recurring monthly donations under the Gr8full Giving Program ($21–$24/month). Non-dilutive grant and donation income flows to the 501(c)3 foundation, including a $12,750 American Water Charitable Foundation 2025 Workforce Readiness Grant awarded December 8, 2025. The company has not raised institutional capital and operates entirely on founder equity and earned revenue.

Name

DV8 Kitchen

Legal name

DV8 Kitchen, LLC

Website

https://dv8kitchen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DV8 Kitchen is a founder-owned Lexington, KY restaurant and bakery operating two locations that serve breakfast, lunch, and catering while providing 100% second-chance employment to people in substance abuse recovery, supported by a 501(c)3 vocational training foundation and Soulfull Enterprise consulting arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Enterprise Restaurant and Bakery

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Bakery Products (2050)

akta.pro primary industry

All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cafe-Bakeries (Bakery + Coffee/Foodservice) (THAFAFAG), Wholesale / Commercial Bakeries (B2B Supply) (THAFAFAF)

Keywords

• Social enterprise restaurant
• Second-chance employment
• Bakery and catering
• Vocational training programs
• Recovery employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Restaurant and Bakery Sales: Revenue from two Lexington restaurant locations serving breakfast and lunch, including in-house dining, takeaway, and online orders
2. Catering Services: Private event catering with full-service menu options including passed appetizers, salads, sandwiches, mains, and desserts
3. Wholesale Bakery: Wholesale bakery operations producing baked goods for distribution
4. Merchandise Sales: Merchandise store selling DV8 Kitchen branded items and holiday boxes
5. Soulfull Enterprise Consulting: Individual consulting, group events, and training for businesses wanting to implement second-chance employment models
6. Book Sales (Deviate from Denial): Sales of book by Sam Perez with percentage of proceeds benefiting DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation
7. Donations and Grants: 501(c)3 foundation accepting donations via Venmo, mail, and Kroger Community Rewards program; receives grants from organizations like American Water Charitable Foundation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DV8 Kitchen operates two brick-and-mortar restaurant and bakery locations in Lexington, Kentucky (Broadway and East End) that serve breakfast, lunch, and baked goods (croissants, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, cookies, muffins, granola) while functioning as a 100% second-chance employer for people in substance abuse recovery. The company supplements dine-in service with full-service catering, private event venue rentals, a wholesale bakery operation, an online merchandise store, gift cards, and the Soulfull Enterprise consulting service that helps other businesses adopt second-chance employment models.

Product overview

DV8 Kitchen is a social enterprise restaurant and bakery with two Lexington, KY locations (Broadway and East End) that functions as a second-chance employer for people in substance abuse recovery. The core offering is the restaurant and bakery, serving breakfast, lunch, bakery items (croissants, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, cookies), and catering for private events. The company operates three related social-impact products: the DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation (501(c)(3) providing vocational training and employment workshops), Soulfull Enterprise (a consulting and training service teaching businesses how to implement second-chance employment), and the annual DV8K Life Changing Run charity event. Ancillary offerings include an online merchandise store, gift cards, and the Gr8full Giving monthly donor program. The company also authored the book 'Deviate From Denial' to raise awareness about addiction and recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DV8 Kitchen Restaurant and Bakery Full dine-in restaurant and bakery service at two Lexington, KY locations serving breakfast (e.g., Breakfast Plate $10.80, Southern Eggs Benedict $10.50, Biscuit & Gravy $9.80), lunch (sandwiches, tacos, salads, burgers from $8.50-$13.95), and bakery items (croissants, brioche, biscuits, cookies, muffins, granola, bread loaves from $0.60-$8.90). Functions as the operational vehicle for 100% second-chance employment of people in substance abuse recovery.
• DV8 Kitchen Catering Full-service catering for private and corporate events including passed appetizers, sandwiches, salads, tacos, mains, a bread bar, and desserts. Available on-site at both DV8 locations or delivered off-site for external events.
• DV8 Kitchen Private Events Venue rental at both Broadway and East End restaurant locations, available standalone or combined with DV8 catering for occasions such as birthday dinners, rehearsal dinners, graduation parties, and corporate events. The East End location offers outdoor patio space.
• Soulfull Enterprise Consulting Consulting and training services developed by the DV8 Kitchen founders that equips for-profit businesses, social enterprises, non-profits, and government agencies to adopt second-chance employment models, including individual consulting, transformational employment guidance, group workshops, and speaking engagements.
• DV8 Kitchen Merchandise Store Online merchandise store selling branded DV8 Kitchen items including apparel and holiday gift boxes, powered by Square e-commerce.
• DV8 Kitchen Gift Cards Digital gift cards redeemable at DV8 Kitchen Broadway and East End locations, sold through the CardFoundry platform.
• Deviate From Denial (book) A book by Sam Perez exploring the opioid epidemic through inspirational stories of addiction and recovery; a percentage of proceeds benefits the DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation. Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book.
• Gr8full Giving Monthly Donor Program Monthly recurring donor subscription ($21-$24/month tiers) that funds uniforms, life-skills workshop attendance, food handler certification fees, and peer mentor sessions for DV8 Kitchen employees in recovery.
• DV8K Life Changing Run Annual charitable run event held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, KY, serving as both a fundraising and awareness event for DV8 Kitchen's second-chance employment mission; the 8th annual event is scheduled for August 15, 2026.
• DV8 Kitchen Online Ordering (Takeout) Direct online ordering through the Aloha Online Ordering platform allowing customers to place takeout orders for both Lexington DV8 Kitchen locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of employees in second-chance positions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Water Charitable FoundationcoreOthers · 8 December 2025American Water Charitable Foundation awarded grants to support workforce readiness programs in Kentucky, including DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation. Grants aim to enhance education, career readiness, and community development in Kentucky. Kentucky American Water and its subsidiary are primary organizations involved.
• Kentucky Chamber FoundationminorOthersWorkforce readiness program beneficiary alongside DV8 Kitchen
• Shepherds HousecoreOthersRecovery home partner providing safe housing and accountability through testing. Provides residents ready to enter the workforce for employment at DV8 Kitchen.
• Chrysalis HousecoreOthersRecovery home for women providing residents for second-chance employment. Created table art at South Broadway location featuring Alcoholics Anonymous text with 'I did it for us' message.
• Hope CentercoreOthersCommunity partner in recovery services providing residents ready for workforce entry
• Refuge for WomencoreOthersRecovery home partner providing safe housing and accountability for residents seeking employment
• Lighthouse MinistriesminorOthersCommunity partner contributing to the vision of DV8 Kitchen
• Revive Life HouseminorOthersCommunity partner contributing to the vision of DV8 Kitchen
• Community Action CouncilminorOthersCommunity partner contributing to the vision of DV8 Kitchen
• Jubilee JobsminorOthersCommunity partner focused on recovery employment
• Stoll Keenon OgdenminorOthersProfessional services firm (Jamie Brodsky) that has contributed to the vision of DV8 Kitchen
• Bluegrass Hospitality GroupminorOthersHospitality industry partner (Bruce Drake and Brian McCarty) contributing to DV8 Kitchen vision

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Homeboy Industries: Los Angeles-based social enterprise with food businesses (cafés, bakery, catering) that hire formerly incarcerated and gang-involved individuals, providing training and wraparound services. Comparable mission, food-service focus, and second-chance employment model.
• Greyston Bakery: Well-known social enterprise bakery that employs individuals with barriers to employment (including from recovery communities) to produce brownies and baked goods. Most direct comparable because of its combined bakery manufacturing model and second-chance employment mission.
• The Coffee Oasis: Social enterprise coffee shop chain that employs at-risk youth and provides workforce development, with cafes and wholesale coffee. Comparable because it combines food-and-beverage retail with second-chance employment and a vocational-training mission.
• Cafe Momentum: Dallas-based restaurant and culinary training program that employs youth emerging from juvenile detention, providing 12-month paid internships in a full-service restaurant setting. Closest full-service restaurant peer with second-chance employment focus.
• Saul Good Restaurant & Pub: Former Lexington, KY restaurant concept founded and operated by Rob and Diane Perez until May 2022. Founder-led comparable that shows the operators' prior playbook in the same local market and serves as a direct history/capability benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• First Watch Restaurant Group: Large breakfast, brunch, and lunch restaurant chain operating nationally with a similar daypart and menu (pancakes, sandwiches, salads). Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same breakfast/lunch category DV8 competes in.
• Panera Bread: Major bakery-cafe chain combining bakery production with restaurant service. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the cafe-bakery / bakery-and-foodservice segment in which DV8 competes and into which its wholesale bakery could expand.
• Le Pain Quotidien: Global bakery-cafe chain offering communal breakfast, pastries, sandwiches, and salads. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the all-day cafe-bakery / bakery plus foodservice category that overlaps with DV8's menu and bakery focus.

Emerging players

• New Grounds Food: Specialty coffee and food business that employs refugees, providing training and stable income. Comparable through its social-mission food retail model, though its focus is coffee and refugees rather than full-service restaurant and recovery.

Regional players

• Bluegrass Hospitality Group: Lexington, KY-based multi-concept hospitality group operating restaurants and bars. Listed as a community partner to DV8 and a direct same-market regional comparable for the Lexington operating environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dv8kitchen
• Instagraminstagram.com/dv8kitchen/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
• Xx.com/DV8Kitchen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DV8 Kitchen