Since plans were announced back in 2014, anticipation over Anthony Bourdain’s New York food market has been steadily ramping up. The $60 million project, which is set to include a full-service restaurant and over 100 vendors, is now set to launch in 2019. At 155,000 square feet, Bourdain Market will be the largest food market in New York and is expected to receive 20,000 visitors a day once it opens. As the host of travel and food shows such as “Parts Unknown” and “No Reservations,” Bourdain has become acquainted with all of the best food around the world – and now he plans to bring it to New York.
Bourdain Market is one part of a larger redevelopment plan for Pier 57, which has been unoccupied since 2004. The historic site, built in 1952, was once a terminal for Grace Line Cruises and later served as a bus depot for the New York City Transit Authority. Today it is owned by the Hudson River Park Trust and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The redevelopment of Pier 57 is a joint project between RXR Realty and Young Woo & Associates, and is set to cost $350 million. Governor Cuomo’s office announced in 2015 that the project is meant to bring jobs and new investment to the Chelsea waterfront. RXR and Young Woo & Associates have a 97 year lease and plan to build an 80,000 square foot public park as part of the development. Architects Roman and Williams are designing Bourdain Market.
Though Bourdain Market was originally set to open this year, that was pushed back to 2019 as of July 2016. There are some details that are still unknown about this project, but Bourdain has given just enough information to keep us all intrigued. In September 2015, he told The New York Times that his inspiration comes from Singapore hawker markets, which feature communal eating spaces and stands selling street food from around the world. In fact, Bourdain plans to bring many of those vendors to New York either to run the stands themselves or to train local chefs. The visa process has taken longer than expected, and Bourdain has indicated that this is the main reason for the delayed opening. He simply refuses dishes like Hainanese chicken or Geylang rice if it doesn’t taste like the real thing.
We also know that Bourdain Market will feature late-night hours, and possible karaoke and film screenings, in the hopes of attracting locals and tourists alike. April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman of The Spotted Pig have already signed on to take part in the project, along with purveyors from a butcher shop in Sydney and a tostada stand in Mexico. Bourdain has also mentioned plans for a farmers market, oyster bar, and a rooftop beer garden.
Between now and 2019, all of New York will be waiting to hear who else signs on to operate vendor stands, and who will helm the full-service restaurant that’s planned for the space. In the meantime, you can download the Bourdain Market mobile app to be the first to know about vendors as they sign on and to receive updates on the project.
