“Not every night is a dinner party night—but any night can be a big night” is the mantra of this colorful, cheerful store, which opened earlier this month on a pretty stretch of Manhattan’s West Village. The concept is unique but simple: it’s a one-stop shop for both party hosts and guests filled with delightful items themed around preparing, serving, and eating.
Founded by Katherine Lewin, this is Big Night’s second location. Lewin, a former editorial director, launched her first store in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in 2021 in a jewel box of a space of about 400 square feet. The West Village outlet features a slightly larger selling space (roughly 500 feet) but with the same fun, festive vibe and curated mix of housewares and food items.
If you weren’t planning to host a party when you walked in, you might be mapping out a guest list by the time you’ve finished browsing the serving platters, candlestick holders, and hors d’oeuvres. The West Village Big Night is divided into sections based on different rooms, like kitchen and bathroom. Spacious shelves artfully present flatware; confetti cutting boards; artisan-designed vases, wine glasses, and bowls; stylish cloth napkins and dish towels; and even a “dinner party” candle that gives off the homey scent of arugula, basil, amber, and wood.
Packaged foods—mostly small bites, snacks, and appetizer options—are interspersed between the housewares. These include tinned fish delicacies, pasta and sauces, coffees and teas, cheeses, crackers and spreads, nori nuts, maple syrup, and olive oil. Big Night’s website offers many items online for those who can’t make it to the store.
Prices for the pantry options align with the prices of other specialty food stores. The home goods can be pricy, as upscale products from emerging or hard-to-find brands often are.
“We source our collection of glassware, flatware, table linens, condiments, tinned fish, olive oil, and so much more from all over the country and world,” Lewin says on its website. “We have relationships with all of the incredible people behind the brands we carry and can’t wait for you to meet their goods.”
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