New York City food hall openings abound in the coming months with new entrants aiming to serve daily commuters, tourists, and food connoisseurs with eclectic offerings and provide communal spaces to gather and explore.
Slated for a late Spring opening is Urbanspace’s FIDI location in Manhattan’s Financial District. The food hall hopes to offer a myriad of flavors for any meal of the day, with vendors offering everything from quick-bite breakfast to izakaya-style small plate dinners.
Eldon Scott, president at Urbanspace told SFA News Daily, “We are bullish on Manhattan and ecstatic to grow our reach Downtown to 100 Pearl as our first Lower Manhattan outlet. FiDi is a vibrant mix of office workers and residents and our proximity to the Stone Street Historic District also draws many tourists to the neighborhood.” Scott noted Urbanspace’s excitement in transforming the privately-owned public space into a hub for people to meet, eat, and make lasting memories.
Another food hall, Urban Hawker, is readying for a summer debut. KF Seetoh, the food hall’s cuisine curator, said that it will sit at “The cross-section that makes up the multi-culture flavors that color Singapore: Malay-, Chinese-, Indian-, Peranakan-, and Hainan-influenced western meat chops and grills. We're also bringing the inventor (and his son) of the infamously moreish seafood dish of Singapore – Chili Crabs. Of course, you cannot step out of Urban Hawker without devouring Singapore’s national dish, the humble Chicken Rice.”
Seetoh emphasized the hall’s desire to accurately present the varied Singaporean cuisine and culture. Many of these Singapore-based vendors will make their international debut at this location.
James Beard Foundation’s food hall located on Pier 57, is set to open its doors this fall. Launched in partnership with Google and Jamestown LP, as with Chelsea market located only a few blocks away, the vision for this Chelsea addition is to create a community-centered space that celebrates the diversity in American food culture.
“Pier 57’s many publicly-accessible spaces will enhance neighborhood connectivity and provide new access to the waterfront,” said Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, in a statement. “The food hall will further diversify Chelsea’s vibrant food scene, while also fostering and incubating local entrepreneurship.”
When asked about how COVID-19 impacted the decision to open, many food halls cited the opportunities available at this time for New York City foodservice. Scott cited the “pent-up demand for lively, comfortable gathering spaces” that food halls provide.
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