Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1119718
within Industry City. Eventually, that grew into a much larger con- cept that includes an all-Japanese food hall, Izakaya restaurant, and Japanese specialty liquor store." Invite-Only Vendor Space When choosing new food vendors to add to the Industry City layout, Somoza and his team have a list of factors to consider. Does the new vendor bring something new? "We need to know that the vendor is bring- ing something dynamic that we don't already have, especially if it adds to what already exists both here in Industry City and within Sunset Park's Chinatown and Latin cuisine," says Somoza. "For example, we had Big Alice Brewing open, adding a brewery to our Distillery Row, which already includes Brooklyn Kura, a sake brewer that is soon to undergo expansion, and Barrow's Intense, a Brooklyn-made ginger liqueur." Community impact is also a large part of the decision process, Somoza explains. "Second or third locations of already existing Brooklyn businesses are a sizeable portion of our food tenants as it is fundamental for us to create jobs for as many existing Brooklyn residents as possible." Building businesses up is what Industry City is all about. Coming soon are new locations of already-iconic Brooklyn establish- ments—Sahadi's, a Middle Eastern grocery store, and Hometown Bar-B-Que, dishing out award-winning slow smoked meats. "Something Greater Than a Grocery Store" While potential vendors are always trying to find a home at Industry City, Somoza works to curate a food and cultural experi- ence there unlike any other. "Industry City separates itself as a food destination by going above and beyond. Visitors can not only grab chocolate at Manhattan's oldest Chocolatier, Li-Lac chocolates, they can also get a peek at their mesmerizing factory," Somoza explains. "They can shop at one of the most niche Japanese markets in New York. They can even check out art exhibits and activities in between meals. In the past we've had world- renowned art exhibits, roller discos, cooking classes, and concerts, and we only expect to expand those extra-culinary offerings," he adds. "We wanted to achieve some- thing greater than a grocery store. We wanted to create a destination and an experience you can't get any- where else." FOOD + DRINK OPTIONS AT INDUSTRY CITY • Avocaderia Avocado Cafe specializing in avocado toast (BUILDING 2) • Bangkok B.A.R. Thai street fare (BUILDING 2) • Barrow's Intense Ginger liqueur and tasting room (BUILDING 6) • Bell House Outpost Outdoor bar in Courtyard 1/2 (BETWEEN BUILDINGS 1 & 2) • Big Alice Brewing Small-cask craft beer brewery (BUILDING 6) • Blue Marble Ice Cream Organic ice cream (BUILDING 2) • Breadberry Local Kosher Deli and salad bar (BUILDING 2) • Brooklyn Brine/Pickle Shack Vegan cafe and pickled items (BUILDING 5) • The Brooklyn Kitchen Cooking classes (BUILDING 2) • Brooklyn Kura New York's first sake brewery (BUILDING 6) • Burger Joint Burgers and speakeasy bar (BUILDING 2) • Coffee Bar by Frying Pan BK Coffee, hot breakfast, and pastries from Dough (BUILDING 5) • Colson Pattiserie Coffee, french bread, and pastries (BUILDING 3) • Ejen Korean comfort food (BUILDING 2) • Ends Meat Whole animal salumeria (Building 2) • Filament at The Landing New American restaurant (BUILDING 2) • The Frying Pan Brooklyn Full bar and seafood sandwiches (BUILDING 5) • Gumption Australian coffee roastery and cafe (BUILDING 19) • Hometown Bar-B-Que Slow smoked meats and sandwiches (BUILDING 5) • Japan Village Japanese food hall and marketplace (BUILDING 4) • Kotti Berliner German Doner kebab (BUILDING 2) • Li-Lac Chocolates NYC's oldest chocolatier (BUILDING 4) • One Girl Cookies Whoopie pies, cakes, and light lunch fare (BUILDING 2) • Table 87 Coal fired pizzas (BUILDING 2) • Taco Mix Mexican street food (BUILDING 2) • Taza Market Indian specialties and curries (BUILDING 2) • Yaso Tangbao Shanghainese street fare and soup dumplings (BUILDING 3) • Maglia Rosa Italian coffees, paninis, gelato, and self-service bike shop (BUILDING 5) • Sahadi's Middle Eastern grocery and hot bar (BUILDING 4) Sara Kay is the education specialist for the Specialty Food Association. PHOTOS: INDUSTRY CITY 148 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com store tour