For the past ten months, Coco Rays has been dishing up delicious tacos, burritos, and quesadillas—at very affordable prices— for Northern Essex Community College students, faculty, and staff, and the community out of the Revolving Test Kitchen (RTK) located at 420 Common St.

Owner Ray Gonzalez is now looking for permanent space for a full-scale restaurant in Lawrence, and the search is on for a new food entrepreneur to replace Coco Ray’s, beginning as early as December of this year.  Coco Rays plans to remain open at NECC, Monday through Saturday, 10:30 am to 9 pm, and Sunday, 11 am to 7 pm, until the search is completed.

A partnership between, Northern Essex Community College, Lupoli Companies, the Lawrence Partnership, and the city of Lawrence, the Revolving Test Kitchen was created to provide an opportunity for budding restaurant entrepreneurs to build their business with the expectation that they will eventually open in Lawrence, contributing to the city’s economic development.

In less than one year, and with help from the RTK partners, Ray Gonzalez has turned Coco Rays, a former restaurant food truck business, into a brick and mortar destination for many in Lawrence.  He received help with branding, marketing, business development, food production planning, finance, accounting, and developing a solid business plan.

“The college is so proud to be part of this,” said Lane Glenn, NECC President.  “Having Coco Rays on campus satisfied a need for delicious, affordable campus food, and, at the same time, we’re helping a really deserving entrepreneur to get his start.”

Food entrepreneurs interested in learning more about this opportunity, can visit the website.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 8,500 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website.