Foodies rejoice! New York City’s Chelsea Market will soon expand to locations around the world. According to the Wall Street Journal, real estate and investment company, Jamestown, has its eyes set on at least one and possibly two more locations before 2018 closes out. While the exact locations have yet to be secured, up-and-coming neighborhoods in Europe and the United States are currently being targeted.
Built in the former National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) factory, where the Oreo cookie was invented, the Chelsea Market is one of New York City’s most popular urban food courts. Not only does it provide a plethora of culinary offerings, it also serves as a shopping mall, office building and television production facility. Since its inception, it has been a go-to food destination for both New Yorkers and tourists alike for over 20 years.
Although Jamestown recently finalized the sale of the 1.2-million-square-foot building to Google for $2.4 billion dollars, it still owns branding rights to Chelsea Market, as well as the ability to operate the downstairs market. The sale, however, is giving Jamestown the financial capacity to consider expansion plans that will allow the company to build up neighborhoods that might not be bustling with commercial activity just yet — very much like how Chelsea was once upon a time.
As Grub Street points out, Jamestown does have a solid reputation for developing these types of commercial spaces. After all, it owns One Times Square, the site of the New Year’s Eve ball drop, and Brooklyn’s Industry City complex, which also boasts a food hall of its own.
