Anthony Bourdain to open huge food market

Anthony Bourdain, the chef known for many TV shows and books, wants to open the largest and most extensive food market in the US in New York in two years. The floor area? 15,000 square metres, which is the equivalent of three football pitches. All existing food markets and halls around the world pale in comparison.

Spectacular selection

It is not just the size that is spectacular. The selection will also surpass all the other markets already found in the Big Apple. Bourdain wants to bring a selection of the best food trucks, stalls and stands from every corner of the world to New York, including foreign staff, and is prepared to go to great lengths to do so. That is challenging for Bourdain and business partners Stephen Werther and David Swinghamer (former head of the luxury snack chain Shake Shack), as they have to arrange dozens of visas. A rather time-consuming and expensive task.

Major investment

No expense or effort will be spared to bring this mega-project to life. The men are investing sixty million dollars. Roman & Williams, a renowned architecture firm that designed Lafayette and the Standard, among others, is taking on the huge task of bringing the market to life.

Guaranteed hotspot

This guaranteed hotspot will be built near the trendy Meatpacking District, on a pier on the Hudson River. In terms of atmosphere, think of an Asian night market, which means eating and drinking until late. It will be an authentic, wonderfully organised chaos, and hopefully all of Bourdain’s collected impressions of flavours from his travels will come together in this unique place.

Food markets in New York

Chelsea Market, New York’s oldest food market.

Local produce and hipsters at Smorgasburg markt, near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Stylishly sophisticated urban chic at the Gansevoort Market.

Popular Italian market with shops, restaurants, bars and bakeries at Eataly.

After Scandinavian design, it is now time for Scandinavian food at chef Claur Mayer’s The Great Northern Food Hall.

Text: Nora van den Heuvel
Image: Alex Welsh – The New York Times