Anthony Bourdain cancels plans for food market at Google’s Pier 57
Despite hyping up his massive Singapore street hawker-style food hall and retail market at Google’s Pier 57 development since 2015, Anthony Bourdain announced today that he won’t be moving forward with the project, reports Eater. Back in March, his partner and CEO of what was dubbed Bourdain Market stepped down. At the same time, it was learned that they’d yet to sign a lease, both of which made the 2019 opening seem like a stretch. In a statement, Bourdain said, “It seems increasingly clear that in spite of my best efforts, the stars may not align at Pier 57 which is an especially complicated site for which we still do not have a lease.”
View of the Pier upon topping out in June, via 6sqft
The $60 million food hall would have had more than 100 different stalls, which Bourdain likened to “an Asian night market.” Throughout the process, he did mention having difficulties securing vendors, and rumors were circulating that SuperPier co-developers RXR Realty and Young Woo & Associates were hesitant to produce a lease as they were also in talks with Eataly and Gansevoort Market as potential vendors.
Bourdain is still hoping to open a food hall in New York City, however. He added to his statement, “I promised a certain kind of market to New Yorkers and to potential vendors, and if that vision becomes clouded, diluted or compromised, it is no longer something that our city needs. I remain hopeful that New York will someday have such a market — I still passionately wish to create this resource that New Yorkers deserve.”
The Pier topped out this past June and has an anticipated opening of summer 2018. The $350 million project will include 250,000 square feet of offices for Google and an elevated two-acre park with a rooftop movie and performance amphitheater to be used for Tribeca Film Festival screenings. The developers did not respond to Eater for comment, so it’s not yet known if a food market is still in the plans.
[Via Eater]
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