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E
arlier this year, Urban Space Vanderbilt was
named one of the world’s Best New Food
Halls by
Travel + Leisure
Magazine. This is quite
an accomplishment for what is one of the
smaller new projects to open over the past 18
months but it's not necessarily a surprise. At
just 12,000 sf, we don’t technically classify this
as “mini food hall,” (maintaining that
classification for projects of 10,000 sf or less),
but it does boast many of the same attributes
as those new crop of projects do. It is nestled
at the base of a landmark office building and is
located in an area with significant worker-
driven daytime population demographics. But
it also benefits from some of the factors that
historically have driven more traditional food
hall projects: location directly across the
street from Grand Central Terminal and so
benefits from immense commuter and
tourism-related foot traffic.
Urban Space Vanderbilt is home to more than
20 artisanal and chef-driven food concepts
built around a hip and stylish communal
seating area that encourages diners to graze
and try multiple offerings in any given visit.
This project in the heart of Midtown Manhattan
includes a diverse mix of offerings ranging
from the upscale deli, Mile End Delicatessen to
modern Greek fare from Amali Mou, the
sandwiches and craft beer of Mayhem & Stout
to authentic Thai street food from the Bangkok
B.A.R. and Japanese-inspired Mexican food
from Takumi Taco. Vegetarian fare from Two
Tablespoons, the fresh-baked goods of Ovenly
(currant rosemary scones anyone?). Middle-
Eastern cuisine from Mimi’s Hummus, Mexico
City tacos from La Palapa Taco Bar and lobster
from Red Hook Lobster Pound are just a few
of the other concepts under this roof.
Urban Space Vanderbilt
25
Food Halls of America 2016