Chelsea Market opens one of the largest
outdoor dining destinations in NYC
FILE PHOTO
BY FANNI FRANKL
Chelsea Market recently announced
the start of their
block-long outdoor seating
and dining program on Manhattan’s
West Side on Monday.
The block will feature more
than 115 socially distanced tables
lining 1,000-plus linear feet on
15th and 16th Streets (between
9th and 10th Avenues) so more
than 200 guests will be able to
enjoy full table service, selfservice,
take-out, and delivery
from restaurants in the area. This
initiative was part of the Meatpacking
Business Improvement
District’s plan to keep Chelsea
Market tenants operating during
the pandemic.
Five restaurants including
Ayada Buddakan Dickson’s
Ayada, Buddakan, Dickson’s
Farmstand Meats, Lobster Place
and Miznon will be available for
outdoor dining with table service.
11 restaurants will be open with
communal seating while L’Arte
del Gelato outdoor cart will be
available for service as well.
“Having a safe outdoor space
to relax and eat is such an important
amenity for the Meatpacking
District community,” said Executive
Director of the Meatpacking
Business Improvement District,
Jeffrey LeFrancois. “Chelsea
Market helps make our neighborhood
one of the most enjoyable
and unique in the city and being
able to once again experience the
wonders of the market will go a
long way in making everyone feel
more at home.”
Part of the project included lush
landscaping along the sidewalks of
the district market to create enclosure.
Six-foot circles were placed
on the street and sidewalk to help
guests remain socially distant,
and health ambassadors are onsite
with complimentary masks to
ensure proper safety protocols and
procedures are being followed.
To help guests navigate their
dining options, Chelsea Market
has launched a Mobile Directory,
scannable onsite, that lists all
available menu and for-sale items
for each retailer and restaurant.
QR codes can be used at each
table to direct customers to an
exact location to pick up their
meals or merchandise.
Many business owners were
excited about the prospect of
the vibrancy of Chelsea Market
returning.
“I was delighted to hear about
the expansion of outdoor seating
on 15th Street. As a resident of
Chelsea and business owner in
Chelsea Market, it really allows
our community the extra space to
enjoy the entire neighborhood,”
said Rachel Simons, Co-Founder
of Seed + Mill. “Chelsea Market
and the Meatpacking BID have
done much more than just create
extended seating – they’ve given
the neighborhood something to be
excited about.”
“I’ve missed seeing this neighborhood
alive,” said Esther Choi,
Owner of Mokbar. “Bringing so
many restaurants outdoors at
once is safely bringing our neighborhood
back together and giving
us all something to be grateful for
after a long few months.”
4 August 20, 2020 Schneps Media