See inside Manhattanville Market, the new food hall at Columbia’s West Harlem campus

It’s been nearly three years since Columbia University was joined by architect Renzo PIano as he unveiled his third and final building at the school’s Manhattanville campus. And now, Piano’s Jerome L. Greene Science Center will welcome a new ground-floor tenant that’s sure to be popular among both students and local residents. Opening Friday, Manhattanville Market is a new food hall from chef Franklin Becker of fast-casual chain the Little Beet.

“This project is very exciting for me, as is the ability to partner with such a prestigious university to bring diverse food concepts to the area,” said Franklin Becker. “It has been a long time in the making and I feel we are poised to make a big impact on the neighborhood which is equally as rich and diverse.”

Top: Benny Casanova’s; Bottom: Butterfunk Biscuit

When the food hall opens this week, there will be three concepts from Becker himself, including Shai, a Meditteranean- and Israeli-inspired restaurant that serves dishes like hummus, chicken shawarma, and chickpea stew; Benny Casanova’s, which specializes in Sicilian pizza and launched as a ghost kitchen in Philadelphia last fall, and The Botanist, a vegan-friendly salad spot. The fourth fast-casual option will be Chef Chris Scott’s Butterfunk Biscuit. In the fall, a full-service Spanish tapas restaurant called Oliva will open in the space.

In addition, a seasonal bazaar will open at the food hall, which will welcome local vendors selling their artisanal products, farm-fresh produce, and other ingredients.

As for the space itself, it was designed by Glen Coben of Glen & Co Architecture. He worked with Becker on creating an open and inclusive destination that includes floor-to-ceiling glass windows, wheelchair-accessible seating in multiple locations, and stadium-style seating for large groups.

Manhattanville Market opens to the public on Friday, June 25 and will be open daily from 11am to 8pm. It’s located at 3229 Broadway at 130th Street.

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All photos courtesy of F. Becker Hospitality