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/523050
kris@justjans.com | www.justjans.com 818-514-5964 Spread the Goodness Visit us at the Fancy Food show ! Booth #3156 J u s t J a n ' s Summer Fancy Food Show Booth 3156 Summer Fancy Food Show Booth 4227 URBAN MARKET OF WILLIAMSBURG Key Food's 16,000-square-foot Urban Market, which opened in December 2013, brings some of the conveniences of suburban shopping to an urban setting. Location: On traffic-heavy Broadway, with free two- hour parking (with a purchase) plus free local delivery with a $50 minimum order. Grocery upgrades: Standout features include a large prepared foods department and a vast selection of craft beers, plus specialty cheese, fresh sushi, a bakery, and an olive bar. Popular with customers, according to owner Colin Xie, is the focus on local items, many of which can be found in a special section of the store. "We do a lot with local manufacturers. We have farms upstate that we work with, and we sell local cheese, local produce, and products made in Brooklyn," he says, adding that these offerings fly off the shelves. Products include Tipsy Scoop liquor-infused ice cream, Oslo and Brooklyn Roasting Company coffee, Lucky's Tomatoes, and produce from Gotham Greens, grown right in New York City. Best known for: Being a hybrid store, says Xie. "We're like a mini Whole Foods, but we also have basic stuff like toilet paper, toothpaste." Customers appreciate the variety, says Xie, who estimates about 70 percent of sales are for organic and natural products. In-store events, including tastings, are a regular occurrence at Urban Market. "We have a lot of craft beers here, so we do a lot of demonstrations and tastings, especially with the local products," Xie says. Recently, the store has hosted tastings of Filfil hot sauces and other regional products. Urban Market offers catering, too, serving area businesses on a regular basis. Overall the concept store has been a success and, though he wouldn't disclose details, Xie is already planning for additional locations. 11 Broadway, Brooklyn NY; 347.987.3740; urbanmarketwilliamsburg.com SUMMER 2015 113 PHOTO: URBAN MARKET