How Coopers Ferry Engineers Inclusive Prosperity in Camden

About Coopers Ferry Partnership 

Coopers Ferry Partnership (CFP) is a leading organization focused on redeveloping the Camden, NJ waterfront and revitalizing the city’s downtown area. For over 30 years, CFP has been facilitating the revival of the City of Camden by creating environments where people want to live, work, visit, study, and invest.  The group supports Camden in its pursuit of an established economic base. Most importantly, they help Camden develop the city’s infrastructure that can provide employment opportunities, cultivate vibrancy and build a strong sense of place through physical upgrades and programming. These efforts have been dubbed “Inclusive prosperity.”  

What is Inclusive Prosperity?  

The term speaks to positive changes that CFP will make in every neighborhood, with every socio-economic group, and with every project. They believe in their responsibility to ensure that Camden residents, workers, students and visitors are all a part of the renaissance of this great city through strategic and meaningful partnership. CFP contacted us to help them design and build their newest project, The Camden LunchBox.  

About the Structure 

The container restaurant is a social enterprise that trains and employs Camden residents through a creative placemaking project that utilizes two shipping containers, retrofitted into food kiosks, at City Hall. The concept serves as a blueprint for community reinvestment throughout the city and region. 

In addition to the day-to-day operations, CFP has also identified The LunchBox as a perfect food vendor for events that take place in Roosevelt Park like the fall festival, movie nights, work out classes, lunchtime concerts, and annual events: Camden Night Garden’s, Camden Jam, and Christmas Tree Lighting.  

How did it turn out?   

Since it’s delivery, The LunchBox has had a direct impact on Camden’s downtown district which attracts a diverse mix of visitors. The project introduced the first unique culinary venture to the downtown district, provided a comfortable sense of place, and offered a low risk financial opportunity for vendors to create a stronger workforce development component to the project.  

Over the years we’ve seen the power containers have to revitalize community gathering places. We’ve seen the effects in Camden, NJ with LunchBox. We’ve seen them in Tampa, FL with Sparkman Warf. We’ve seen them in Buffalo, NY with Ice at Canalside. If you’re interested in how turnkey structures can be used to make a big social impact, fill out our contact form below.