Success Story: The Bantam Kitchen and Cooler

Making Southern Flavor a Key Ingredient in Northern California with The Bantam Kitchen and Cooler

Location: Northern California | Shasta County | Redding

Business Type: Restaurant

Small Business Center: WBC at JEDI

Assistance Received: Business Planning, Cash Flow Management, Other Financial Management, and Training

California State Assembly District: 01 

California State Senate District: 01 

Visit The Bantam Kitchen and Cooler online

When Kate Wood opened The Bantam Kitchen and Cooler, she wasn’t just launching a restaurant–she was filling a gap in Redding’s culinary landscape.  

The opportunity was right in front of her: a space, a full kitchen, a large walk-in cooler, and a legacy of 21 beer taps. Instead of starting from scratch, Kate built around it, introducing a Southern and Cajun-inspired menu for her NorCal community. 

“We thought it would be a great business idea because it didn’t exist here,” Kate shared. “The Bantam puts a modern twist on Southern favorites like po’ boys, shrimp and grits, jambalaya, and chicken and waffles.” 

From day one, the business has been a true partnership. Kate and her husband built The Bantam together, balancing operations, strategy, and growth as a team.  

But growth requires more than a strong concept—it requires financial clarity. As they prepared to expand, Kate connected with the Women’s Business Center at JEDI, part of the statewide California Women’s Business Centers Network (CA WBC). 

The CA WBC Network is California’s only coordinated, statewide economic development infrastructure designed specifically for women entrepreneurs—serving more than 17,000 clients annually in 17 languages through 21 Women’s Business Centers across 53 counties. The network generates an extraordinary $928 million in local economic activity—up 18% from 2024—using a conservative 1.5x reinvestment of total gross sales revenue back into local communities. 

Through 14 hours of WBC at JEDI one-on-one advising and participation in multi-session training, including Dream Big & Fund It, Women’s Business Leadership Circles, and Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential Kate developed the financial models needed to evaluate growth, structure funding, and communicate effectively with investors. 

Soon after, they continued to grow and evolve by securing more than $200,000 in financing, opened a second location at the Redding Public Market, expanding to two operating locations, and built a team of approximately 19 employees. 

Kate and her husband also made strategic decisions to refine their footprint, transitioning from their original location and reopening on Placer Street and establishing a presence at a second location, the Redding Public Market. The moves allowed them to better align operations, strengthen the brand experience, and position the business for long-term sustainability. 

“With the WBC, I’ve found strength in financial strategy, guidance through leadership, and community,” Kate shared. “It’s been a valuable resource as we’ve grown and adapted.” 

Today, The Bantam Kitchen and Cooler stands as a strong example of what happens when local insight meets strategic support: a business that fills a gap, creates jobs, and contributes to regional economic growth. 

From a single concept to a multi-location operation, Kate’s journey reflects what the CA WBC Network sees across California: entrepreneurs turning smart ideas into sustainable businesses that strengthen local economies. 

To learn more, visit The Bantam Kitchen and Cooler online or stop by one of their Redding locations.  

Entrepreneurs in Far Northern California can connect with the WBC at JEDI for no- and low-cost training, one-on-one advising, and access to capital resources. 

6/1/2026