“The Market Line” at Essex Crossing Just Opened! Check It Out!

Phase 1 of what will be a huge 150,000-square-foot underground, multi-level food hall opened this Friday. There were a few start-up hiccups while I was there but it’s going to be absolutely awesome.

The food vendors I saw were fantastic. I can’t wait to go back and do some noshing.

Standouts for me personally included:

Essex Pearl (fishmonger/seafood)
People’s Wine (by the chefs/owners of Contra and Wildair)
Schaller & Weber (German-style smoked meats and sandwiches)
Moon Man (southeast Asian dessert spot)

However, I expect The Grand Delancey to be the biggest attraction. It’s an upscale beer hall with over 50 beers on tap PLUS they invite you to order in from any of the food hall vendors. Judging by what I saw on opening day, the Slice Joint (serving you guessed it, pizza by the slice), Schaller & Weber and Ends Meat (from Sunset Park Brooklyn) will be the big winners among the beer crowd.

Bottom Line.

I’m definitely coming back here soon. I especially want to have oysters at Essex Pearl and some wine at People’s Wine.

When people ask why retail is collapsing, I say visit a food hall. Noshing has replaced shopping and food halls have replaced malls.

But I’m also starting to worry that we might be getting close to a tipping point. I mean how many food halls can NYC accommodate before they start cannibalizing each other?

I hope I’m wrong because nothing is better than a good food hall – and this one is a mere ten-minute walk from my house.