# Commissary Ops Lock — Eight Windows + Eight Digital Brands

**Status:** OWNER LOCK · May 30, 2026  
**Authority:** [08-COMMISSARY-KITCHEN-PLAN-REV7.md](./08-COMMISSARY-KITCHEN-PLAN-REV7.md) · [REV-9.5-FINAL-PROGRAM-LOCK.md](../../02-ARCHITECT-AOR-DESIGN/REV-9.5-FINAL-PROGRAM-LOCK.md) · [46-EQUIPMENT-FINANCING-STRATEGY.md](../../04-OWNER-CAPITAL-EXECUTION/46-EQUIPMENT-FINANCING-STRATEGY.md)

> **Read first:** [COMPLIANCE-FIRST-SEQUENCE.md](./COMPLIANCE-FIRST-SEQUENCE.md) — regulatory gates **before** this ops model. Eight+Eight is **Tier 4** (after LDH commissary + CO), not Week 1.

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## The model (better than “random cloud kitchens”)

Do **not** chase fifteen unrelated MrBeast-style franchises. Run **one kitchen, two faces**:

| Face | What guests see | Count |
|------|-----------------|-------|
| **Mirage Plate** | Courtyard chef windows — walk-up, lunch, photos, Michoud crowd | **8** |
| **Mirage Digital** | Uber Eats / DoorDash / pickup — same commissary, different menu names on the apps | **Up to 8** |

**Total brand names Phase 1:** up to **16**  
**Hot production at peak:** **6–8 concepts max** (schedule, not square footage, is the governor)

Your **50′×50′ Type I commissary (~2,500 SF)** is **district-scale**. It is large enough. What you need is **structure** so sixteen names do not become sixteen fryers at 11:30.

**Genius move:** Own the **Digital** brands under **Mirage District LLC** (or one ops LLC). You keep **delivery margin** and one permit path. Window vendors stay **separate** — they bring traffic and rent; Digital brands are **your** upside.

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## Capacity lock (use in investor + vendor talk)

| Tier | Slots | Permit path |
|------|-------|-------------|
| **A — Window vendor** | 8 | Own food permit + **Commissary Agreement** + courtyard window · **$1,500/mo prepaid** bundle ([monthly pricing](./COMMISSARY-MONTHLY-PRICING.md)) |
| **B — Mirage Digital** | 8 menu brands max | **Owner-operated** virtual storefronts; shared kitchen permit where LDH allows |
| **C — Catering / hall** | Unlimited events by calendar | Commissary production for Maison Mirage + courtyard buyouts — not extra “brands” |

**Hard rule:** **No cooking in courtyard containers** — all flame/grease only in commissary ([Doc 12](./12-CONTAINER-OPEN-KIOSK-FIRE-STRATEGY.md)).

---

## What you must have to handle it (checklist)

### 1. Legal & health (before first delivery order)

- [ ] **LDH commissary plan** approved for **50×50** rear kitchen (Type I hood, 3-comp, hand sinks, mop, FRP, grease)
- [ ] **Master Commissary Agreement** template (landlord = Mirage District LLC)
- [ ] **Window Commissary Agreement** — one per courtyard vendor (8)
- [ ] **Digital Brand Schedule** — appendix listing up to 8 virtual menu names under owner ops
- [ ] NOLA Health call: confirm **max commissary agreements** + **multiple virtual menus under one permit**
- [ ] **Food safety manager** (servsafe / LDH requirement) designated
- [ ] **HACCP / standard operating procedures** per tier (window vs digital vs catering)

### 2. Civil / MEP (confirm engineering, not hope)

- [ ] **Grease interceptor** sized for **12–16 commissary users** OR engineer letter for peak GPM (upgrade interceptor if bid set assumed “8 only”)
- [ ] **Type I hood + NFPA 96 + Ansul** commissioned at commissary
- [ ] **Walk-in cooler 8×10 + freezer 6×8** — digital volume needs cold storage for prep-ahead
- [ ] **Make-up air** balanced to hood (commissary MEP sign-off — REV 9.5 rear wing)
- [ ] **Mirage Express** pickup lane + signage ([Doc 52](./52-NEIGHBOR-SAFE-TRAFFIC-PARKING-CONTROL.md)) — delivery drivers use **same curb**, not Michoud gate queue

### 3. Equipment (Day 1 — align Doc 46)

| Need | Why |
|------|-----|
| Hood line: range, flat-top, **combi**, **double fryer** | Shared across all brands — digital menus rotate on same iron |
| **2–3 prep tables** + **pass / expo** table | Separate digital from window plating at rush |
| **KDS screens** (min 2–3) | One stream window tickets, one stream delivery tablets |
| **Label printer** (every bag = brand name + allergens) | Required for multi-brand delivery |
| **Hot holding / cambros** | Stagger window + Uber pickup times |
| **Packaging station** (shelves by brand color/logo) | 8 digital brands = 8 bag/label systems |
| **Ice machine** (bar + digital drinks) | Doc 46 line item |
| Toast (or Square) **multi-menu / multi-location** | 8 digital storefronts map to one kitchen |

### 4. Software stack

| Tool | Role |
|------|------|
| **Toast / Square POS** | Window sales + commissary production KDS |
| **Uber Eats / DoorDash** (8 storefronts max Phase 1) | Mirage Digital menus — **same kitchen address**, different listing names |
| **Mirage Express** (Toast mobile + pickup window) | Own apps orders without 30% platform fee when you push guests there |
| **Scheduling board** (simple: spreadsheet or 7shifts) | **Production Waves** — who fires when |

### 5. Labor (minimum viable to run 8+8)

| Role | FTE | Owns |
|------|-----|------|
| **Executive chef / culinary director** | 1 | Menu architecture across 16 names — shared mise |
| **Commissary manager** | 1 | LDH compliance, agreements, temp logs |
| **Production cooks** | 2–3 | Hood line — rotate by wave |
| **Expo / passer** | 1 | Window vs delivery staging |
| **Delivery coordinator** | 0.5–1 | Tablet alerts, driver handoff, bag accuracy |
| **Dish / prep** | 1–2 | Sanitation + prep ahead for digital |

**You cannot run 16 brands with one line cook.** The kitchen is big enough; the **crew** must match.

### 6. Production Waves (the operating genius)

Same equipment — different **time slots**:

| Wave | Time | Active concepts (example) |
|------|------|---------------------------|
| **A — NASA lunch** | 10:00–14:00 | 4 window vendors + 2 digital “bowl” brands |
| **B — Courtyard dinner** | 17:00–21:00 | 6 window + 2 digital share plates |
| **C — Digital late** | 21:00–01:00 | 2 window + 4 digital (wings, po’boys, etc.) |
| **D — Catering** | By event | Hall / wedding — commissary priority hold |

**Rule:** Never more than **8 concepts** with hot production in the same 30-minute window.

### 7. Mirage Digital brand rules (owner-operated)

- Max **8** app listings Phase 1  
- Names must feel **NOLA / corridor** (not licensed celebrity clones unless you own rights)  
- **70% shared ingredients** across digital menus (one fryer, one rice, one protein prep)  
- **Launch 3 digital brands first** — prove ops — then add 3 — then last 2  
- **Pause** a brand that falls below 4.0★ or <30 orders/week — kitchen capacity is precious

**Example digital slate (illustrative):**

1. Mirage Wings · 2. Gentilly Po’boy Co · 3. Michoud Lunch Box · 4. Bayou Bowl  
5. Night Shift Tacos · 6. Crescent Seafood · 7. Mirage BBQ · 8. Sweet Mirage (dessert-only, commissary finish + partner bakery)

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## Revenue logic (why this beats renting ghost slots)

| Approach | You keep |
|----------|----------|
| Rent commissary desk to outside ghost operators | Rent only — they own apps |
| **Mirage Digital** (owner-run virtual brands) | **100% food margin** minus platform fee (~15–30%) |
| Push guests to **Mirage Express** | Skip platform fee entirely |

Eight windows = **rent + %** from vendors. Eight digital = **your** delivery engine on a kitchen you already built.

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## Phase 2 upside (only if Phase 1 proves volume)

- Second hood line or extended production line  
- **Mirage Express** locker wall (Doc 46 Phase 1B)  
- More than 8 digital — only after interceptor + labor scaled  

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## One-page ask for NOLA Health (copy/paste)

> Mirage District LLC operates a **50′×50′ Type I commissary** at Lot Z, Old Gentilly Road. We will have **eight courtyard food vendors** with commissary agreements and up to **eight owner-operated delivery-only menu brands** from the same kitchen. Cooking occurs only under the Type I hood. Please confirm: (1) maximum commissary agreements per facility, (2) whether multiple virtual restaurant listings may operate under one food permit with one commissary, (3) grease interceptor sizing guidance for this user load.

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## Files to create next (counsel / ops)

| Document | Purpose |
|----------|---------|
| `COMMISSARY-MASTER-AGREEMENT.md` | Landlord terms for all users |
| `VIRTUAL-BRAND-SCHEDULE-EXHIBIT.md` | Lists 8 digital names; update when rotating |
| `PRODUCTION-WAVE-SOP.md` | Wave A/B/C + max 8 hot/active |
| Update [VENDOR-LEASE-OUTLINE-DRAFT.md](./VENDOR-LEASE-OUTLINE-DRAFT.md) | Cross-link Tier A window vs no Tier B for vendors |

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## Public / investor one-liner

> **Eight windows on the courtyard. Eight brands on the apps. One Type I commissary behind both — built for NASA lunch, Gentilly nights, and delivery without building sixteen restaurants.**

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*This doc supersedes informal “+3–4 delivery only” guidance. Engineering and LDH responses may adjust Digital slot count; kitchen SF does not.*