New food-hall concept is bringing vendors and customers together for love of food

Oakley Kitchen Food Hall has been open for about two months, and already, the vendors have become like family.

The eight-vendor food hall, bar and market area has hopes of uplifting the local food community by first supporting its diverse group of vendors.

Drew Oxley, the digital marketing manager for Campfire Foods Group, spends his days working at Oakley Kitchen. Campfire Foods Group, a spinoff business from Eli’s BBQ that partners with food producers to place their products in highly trafficked markets, owns and operates Oakley Kitchen.

“The whole theme of Campfire Foods that bleeds into Oakley Kitchen is just lifting up the food ecosystem,” Oxley says.

As for the process of choosing vendors, Oxley said his company looked for concepts that were chef-driven.

Ibtisam Masto, owner and chef at Olive Tree, works with her family at her Oakley Kitchen stall. Her husband and six children rotate helping in the kitchen, but you will frequently find Masto at her stall with a smile on her face.

Everything is easier at Oakley Kitchen, Masto says. “I have my own place. I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it. Sometimes I cry because I’m so happy.”

Masto has hopes of a brick-and-mortar Olive Tree location eventually. Its extensive menu includes shawarma chicken, lamb kebab, tabouleh and other traditional Syrian dishes.

Donnie Whitcomb, owner and chef at La Petit Frite, began doing pop-ups in 2019. After moving to Cincinnati in 2010, he worked as the general manager of Via Vite, where he met Eli Leisring, co-owner of Eli’s BBQ, who was working as a Via Vite bartender at the time. Flash-forward to this past year when Leisring called Whitcomb up to tell him about his new concept, Oakley Kitchen.

Whitcomb says it has been overwhelming “because I’m almost like a one man show. But it’s getting to a point where we’ve been so busy, especially after the bar opens, that I definitely need more help.”

Busyness is never bad, with La Petite’s frites, shrimp coquettes and black truffle mayo being the most popular items.

Both Whitcomb and Masto were quick to praise each other and their respective food, calling each other “family.”

Other food vendors include Padrino Italian Kitchen, Loakley, Khana Gourmet Indian Grill, Parts & Labor, Jimmie Lou’s New Orleans Comfort Food and Hawaii Onolicious. The Cutaway, which is operated by the owner of Longfellow bar in Over-the-Rhine, offers beer, wine, cider, sake and spirits.

With eight vendors, a bar, a market and plans for event space in the future, Oakley Kitchen is a space for the local community to come share food and quality time together.