The 23 Most Anticipated Food Halls in the Country

Food halls are spreading from coast to coast like wildfire. Long a tradition in Europe and other parts of the world, the multi-faceted, typically indoor markets showcasing a variety of local food vendors and artisans are finally hitting it big in America. As many as 23 food halls are poised to open across the country, but why now?

Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich blazed the trail for American food halls back in 2010, when they opened the first American location of the wildly popular, high-end Italian food hall Eataly in New York City. A Chicago outpost opened in 2013 and a Los Angeles location is slated for 2017, while future locations in D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia  — and beyond — are said to be in the works. Like its European counterparts, the American outposts of Eataly offer a convenient, stylish way to both shop and eat-in by combining a multitude of restaurants, artisan products, and communal dining spaces under one roof.

In addition to the rapidly expanding Eataly, New York and Los Angeles already have several food halls each (most famously, NYC's Gotham West Market and LA's revamped Grand Central Market). And with a few in the works for culinary trend-setting city Portland, Oregon, the rest of the country isn't far behind. America's favorite food explorer Anthony Bourdain is even heading up his very own internationally-focused food hall, set to debut sometime this year in New York City. Meanwhile, Los Angeles restaurateur Tony Riviera recently debuted the first location of his food hall concept the Market Hall in Seattle, with three more to follow in San Diego, San Francisco, and Dallas.

Some food halls like Eataly and the Market Hall own and operate all the vendors within their spaces; others include a variety of already established, locally known names. Often these are smaller, satellite locations of existing restaurants, offshoots of popular food trucks, or more casual concepts from local star chefs. NYC's incredibly popular Gotham West has tenants that include noodle maven Ivan Ramen, charcuterie specialists Cannibal, and a tapas place from chef Seamus Mullen, while Atlanta's upcoming Ponce City Market will include a second location of acclaimed chef Sean Brock's Mexican spot Minero alongside burger and bakery offshoots of Linton Hopkins' beloved Holeman & Finch.

As Americans become increasingly obsessed with all things culinary — and more conscientious about where their food comes from — a return to the old-school way of food shopping by visiting multiple specialized shops instead of one giant big-box store seems like a natural evolution. Food halls are stepping up to fill that interest, offering a convenient, modern approach. Many of the food halls already open or in the works are bringing new life to historic buildings, transforming underutilized spaces into new community hubs and often serving as incubators for independent businesses and startups.  Bon Appetit recently summed up the rapidly expanding category as "21st-century food court[s] for food lovers." Here's a look at the new and upcoming food halls helping to transform the way Americans eat and shop:

ATLANTA

Ponce City Market

Location: 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE, Fourth Ward
Projected opening: Summer 2015
Vendors: Minero, Juice Box, Bellina, Ton Ton, Farm to Ladle, Jia, Dub's Fish Camp, H&F Burger, H&F Bread Co., Simply Seoul Kitchen, unnamed Indian street food concept, Honeysuckle Gelato, Dancing Goats Coffee Bar

Atlanta's landmark Sears, Roebuck & Company building has been totally renovated to include retail space, offices, residences, and the Central Food Hall. Atlanta's beloved Holeman & Finch will be represented with both a burger place and a bakery. Charleston chef Sean Brock is putting a second location of his Mexican-influenced restaurant Minero here, and rumor has it Hugh Acheson (Empire State South, The National, et al.) also has a project in the works, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Residents and office tenants have already moved in and the coffee bar is up and running, with the rest of the restaurant concepts slated to open by this summer. When fully completed, expect 400 parking spaces for bikes as well as an outdoor bar — made from a train boxcar — that will be built out with a deck.

· All Ponce City Market Coverage [EATL]

Already in town: Krog Street Market, Star Provisions

Image: Ponce City Market

CHARLESTON

The Cigar Factory

Location: 701 E. Bay St., Downtown
Projected opening: Early Summer 2015
Vendors: To be announced

A 130-year-old building that originally served as a cotton mill (and then a cigar factory) has gotten a major revamp. Charleston's Indigo Road Restaurant Group has grand plans for the space, which also includes offices (Garden & Gun magazine will move its headquarters there) and retail. Expect a "provisions-style" retail space called the Mercantile: Specific vendors will be announced in April, but the space will showcase cheese, meats, bread, pastries, and charcuterie, plus a coffee bar, a breakfast and lunch counter, and an area for pop-up dinners. A casual bar called Mash will feature an indoor bocce ball court, while up on the second floor will be a private event space named the Cedar Room. Eater Charleston says chef Trey Dutton, formerly of the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, will "oversee all things culinary at the establishments."

· All Cigar Factory Coverage [ECHS]

Image: The Cigar Factory

CHICAGO

The Marketplace at the National

Location: 125 S. Clark St., Central Loop
Projected opening: Fourth quarter of 2015
Vendors: To be announced

A historic 1907 bank building on Clark Street is being transformed into "chic industrial" office spaces, and the ground floor of the 20-story structure will be occupied by the Marketplace. Expect 10 food stalls featuring fast-casual concepts by "many of Chicago’s most respected chefs and restaurant groups." No specific concepts have been confirmed just yet, but Michelin-starred Chicago chef Jared Wentworth (Longman & Eagle) has officially signed on to the project, with more chefs to be announced later. The project will also feature an "artisanal coffee lounge" and a vinyl record store.

· All Marketplace at the National Coverage [ECHI]

Image: The National

Latinicity Food Hall and Lounge

Location: 108 N. State St., The Loop
Projected opening: April 2015
Vendors: To be announced

Chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Richard Sandoval is bringing a Latin-focused food hall to the Block 37 mixed-use development, which occupies an entire city block within Chicago's downtown Loop. The project was originally dubbed Panamericanas Food Hall and Lounge; per an earlier report from Eater Chicago, expect to see "as many as 11 food stations with 350 seats, a full-service restaurant and bar, a classroom, and a retail space."

· All Latinicity Food Hall Coverage [ECHI]

Photo: Richard Sandoval

Already in town: Chicago French Market, Eataly

DALLAS

Image: The Market Hall

The Market Hall

Location: 3875 Ponte Ave. #410, Addison
Projected opening: End of May 2015
Outlets: Produce, cheese, meat, seafood, charcuterie, beer and wine, a full-service restaurant, and more

The third of four Market Halls that will eventually dot the U.S. map (the first opened in Seattle in February), the concept from LA restaurateur Tony Riviera "brings an upscale restaurant and fresh market together under one roof." Expect fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, and charcuterie, as well as beer and wine and a variety of prepared foods for takeout. A full-service restaurant component called MH Cafe is already up and running, with the market still under construction across the street.

· All Market Hall Coverage [EDFW]

Image: The Market Hall

DENVER

Avanti Food and Beverage

Location: 3200 Pecos St., LoHi
Projected opening: May 2015
Vendors: Bixo, Brava! Pizzeria Della Strada, Farmer Girl, MiJo, Poco Torteria, Quiero Arepas, Souk Shawarma

The Avanti Print & Graphics building is being transformed into a nouveau food court thanks to Denver restaurateurs Patrick O'Neill and Brad Arguello and partner Rob Hahn, head of Denver-based real estate group GRT. Seven different restaurants will occupy modified shipping containers that have been outfitted with state-of-the-art kitchens, with a focus on incubating affordable, chef-driven concepts including noodles and sushi, Neapolitan pizza, tortas, "Mexiterranean" tapas, and local, sustainable cuisine. Expect a communal dining space, two bars (main level and rooftop deck) with 20 craft beers, cocktails, and wine, plus a lounge area.

· All Avanti Food and Beverage Coverage [EDEN]

Rendering: Avanti

Already in town: The Source

LOS ANGELES

4th Street Market

Location: 201 E. 4th St., Santa Ana
Projected opening: Opened February 16, 2015
Vendors: Chunk-N-Chip, Dos Chinos, Electric City Butcher, Front Porch Pops & Torch S'More Company, Honor Roll Community Bakery, Ink Waffles, KTCHN DTSA, Mar, Noodle Tramp, PFC, Portola Coffee, Radical Botanicals, Recess Libations, Stockyard Sandwiches, Wagyu Chuck

This gigantic food emporium from developer Ryan Chase just hit Santa Ana, occupying a 30,000-square-foot building that once housed a swap meet. There are more than a dozen restaurants and food stands (including several concepts from Santa Ana chef Jason Quinn) ranging from burgers, waffle sandwiches, and Asian fusion fare to gourmet fried chicken, fancy s'mores, and grilled cheese sandwiches — not to mention coffee, cocktails, and juice. Eater LA says the space is also home to East End Incubator Kitchens, offering 10 kitchens that can be utilized by up-and-coming vendors (the incubator offers business classes for food artisans). The space also houses a kitchen and video production studio for Foodbeast.com.

· All 4th Street Market Coverage [ELA]

Photo: Eater LA

Eataly

Location: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City
Projected opening: Spring 2017
Outlets: To be announced

Rumors have been swirling for years suggesting LA would get its very own Eataly, and the New York-born Italian mega-market is finally slated to land in 2017 as part of a major expansion project at swanky outdoor mall Westfield Century City. No specifics have been announced just yet, but expect tons of Italian imports, wine, and multiple eateries — and if LA is lucky, maybe even a Nutella bar.

· All Eataly Coverage [ELA]

Image: Westfield

Already in town: Grand Central Market, The OC Mix, Original Farmers Market, The Packing House, Stir Market

NEW ORLEANS

St. Roch Market

Location: 2381 St. Claude Ave., Bywater
Projected opening: April 2015
Vendors: Coast Roast Coffee, Curious Oyster Company, Dirty Dishes, Donna Maloney, Elysian Seafood, Juice, Koreole, Lagos, PDR, Shank Shop, St. Roch Forage, Tallulah's

A 19th-century market in the Bywater District is being revived with a dozen restaurants and retail vendors offering baked goods, cold-pressed juices, a raw bar, Nigerian food, crepes, Korean-Creole fusion, charcuterie, local produce, and more. The highly anticipated St. Roch will also have a bar overseen by Ali Mills, who founded the cocktail pop-up Dash and Pony.

· All St. Roch Market Coverage [ENOLA]

Photo: Josh Brasted/ENOLA

NEW YORK

Bourdain Market

Location: Unknown
Projected opening: 2015
Vendors: To be announced

America's favorite culinary explorer will soon grace New York with a massive food hall influenced by Singaporean hawker centers and showcasing international street food. Departures reports that the hall will have "40 to 50 single-concept stalls" each offering one or two specialty dishes. The space will be divided up into three sections: a group of Asian stalls, a "geographic spotlight" area that will change every three or four months, and a set of international/domestic vendors. Eater NY says Bourdain has also "enlisted the help of KF Seetoh, Singapore's most prominent expert on local street food," to help out with the project. Rumors have circulated that the market might be at 3 World Trade Center, but Bourdain is staying tight-lipped for now on a location. No opening date has been announced, though the Wall Street Journal says it will definitely open this year. Possible but unconfirmed vendors include Brooklyn barbecue destination BrisketTown and Xi'an Famous Foods.

· All Bourdain Market Coverage [ENY]

Photo: Parts Unknown/Facebook

City Kitchen

Location: 700 Eighth Ave., Times Square
Projected opening: March 2015
Vendors: Azuki, Dough, Gabriela's Taqueria, Luke's Lobster, Kuro-Obi, ilili Box

A host of new lunch options will hit Midtown this month with the arrival of this new food hall project, coming to the ground floor of the Row NYC hotel. According to Eater NY, the 4,000-square-foot market will feature a doughnut shop by pastry chef Fany Gerson, a taco shop, an outlet of popular lobster roll destination Luke's Lobster, and a Lebanese fast-casual shop. But "the most exciting operation may be Kuro-Obi, an Ippudo-run counter" that will offer three types of ramen for dine-in or take-out.

· All City Kitchen Coverage [ENY]

Image: City Kitchen

Eataly FiDi

Location: 4 World Trade Center, Financial District
Projected opening: Before end of 2015
Outlets: To be announced

Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich's high-end Italian food hall will soon open its second NYC outpost in the 4 World Trade Center building. Eater NY says it will be slightly smaller than the existing Flatiron location, but it too will host multiple eateries as well as a market component.

· All Eataly Coverage [ENY]

Image: 4 World Trade Center

Food Hall at Grand Central Station

Location: 89 E. 42nd St., Midtown
Projected opening: Early 2016
Outlets: Five food pavilions, a bar, a restaurant

Noma co-founder Claus Meyer is bringing a food hall and an accompanying restaurant to bustling Grand Central Station next year. The project is still unnamed for now, but project manager Dahlia Runco promises that "both will be Nordic-inspired, without pushing the Nordic agenda too much." All five food pavilions and a bar will be operated by Meyer's team, rather than bringing in outside vendors.

· All Claus Meyer Coverage [ENY]

Photo: Julian Hautcoeur/Shutterstock

Le District

Location: 225 Liberty St., Battery Park City
Projected opening: March 28, 2015
Outlets: Butcher, charcuterie, fish market, wine bar, bakery, prepared foods, two full-service restaurants, and more

Restaurateur Peter Poulakakos and HPH Hospitality Group are bringing this massive 30,000-square-foot market to the Brookfield Place complex, which already houses a food hall concept called Hudson Eats. The new French-inspired project will be divided into four "districts," says Eater NY: the Café District (pastries, coffee, housemade ice cream, crepes, Belgian waffles), the Market District (cheese, charcuterie, bread, fish market, butcher, wine bar, flower shop), the Garden District (prepared foods and specialty groceries), and the Restaurant District, which will feature a full-service restaurant called Beaubourg Brasserie. The site, located across the street from the World Trade Center, will also house an "intimate, fine dining chef’s table concept" known as L'Appart, plus a bar serving wine, beer, and cocktails.

· All Le District Coverage [ENY]

Photo: Le District/Facebook

Already in town: Berg'n, Chelsea Market, Eataly, Gansevoort Market, Gotham West Market, Hudson Eats, The Plaza Food Hall

PORTLAND

Pine Street Market

Location: 126 SW Second Ave., Old Town
Projected opening: Late Fall 2015
Vendors: To be announced

Old Town's historic Baggage and Carriage building is getting a grand revamp courtesy of developers Rob Brewster, Dave Davies, and Jean Pierre Veillet, with the help of Feast Portland co-founder Mike Thelin as "culinary curator." Eater PDX says "the 9,500-square-foot building will house six to seven food and drink vendors on the ground floor. Each will have its own style, but they'll share amenities like communal seating and restrooms." Vendors have yet to be announced, but Thelin promises a focus on affordable, approachable concepts and "a couple of really emblematic Portland establishments."

· All Pine Street Market Coverage [EPDX]

Image: Pine Street Market

Portland Mercado

Location: 7238 SE Foster Rd., Foster-Powell
Projected opening: April 11, 2015
Vendors: Tierra del Sol, Qué Bacano, Fernando's, El Gato Tuerto, more

The city's first Latino public market, created by the Hacienda Community Development Corporation, will feature eight outdoor food carts with a variety of cuisines including Cuban, Colombian, and Argentinian — and even vegan burritos. Indoor shopping options will include fresh produce, coffee, meats, juice, a tortilleria, a bakery, an ice cream shop, and a bottle shop with beer and wine. Like many of the other up-and-coming food halls, it's intended to serve as an incubator for small businesses and will also feature an affordable commissary kitchen. Expect both indoor and outdoor dining at the market, which the developers call "a Portland-style replication of a trip to Latin America."

· All Portland Mercado Coverage [EPDX]

Image: Portland Mercado/Facebook

James Beard Public Market

Location: SW Naito Pkwy. at Morrison Bridge, Downtown
Projected opening: Spring 2018
Vendors: To be announced

In the making for over a decade now, plans for the long-awaited James Beard Public Market are finally taking shape. Named in honor of the Oregon-born culinary icon, it's intended to be "a daily, year-round, indoor-outdoor marketplace," located just blocks away from the soon-to-open Pine Street Market. Eater PDX says the developers intend "to have stalls for at least 90 vendors, plus teaching kitchens, event space, and full-service restaurants." Norwegian design firm Snøhetta, which helped design the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, has signed on to design the project. Look for renderings of the market to be released come May.

· All James Beard Public Market Coverage [EPDX]

Image: James Beard Public Market

SAN DIEGO

Liberty Public Market

Location: 2816 Historic Decatur Rd., Point Loma
Projected opening: Summer 2015
Vendors: To be announced

Mixed-use development Liberty Station is getting a massive 22,000-square-foot food hall thanks to local restaurateur David Spatafore of Blue Bridge Hospitality. Located right next to the recently opened gastropub/brewery complex Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Eater San Diego says it will "have space for 30 local food artisans, plus outdoor dining areas and an open kitchen." While specific vendors have yet to be announced, the developers promise "year-round fresh produce sourced from surrounding regional farms, locally procured seafood, old-fashioned butcher services, homemade tortillas, artisanal breads and pastries, fine wine merchants in the Southern California area, locally roasted coffee, a craft cocktail partner, specialty handcrafted goods and more," as well as quick-service counters for dining in.

· All Liberty Public Market Coverage [ESD]

Image: FITCH

The Market Hall

Location: 969 Market St., East Village
Projected opening: End of April 2015
Outlets: Produce, cheese, meat, seafood, charcuterie, beer and wine, a full-service restaurant, and more

The second of four planned Market Hall locations from Los Angeles restaurateur Tony Riviera, the San Diego outpost will occupy 6,500 square feet on the ground floor of a luxury apartment building called the Strata. Eater San Diego says, "An exhibition kitchen will fuel both the eatery and the store's significant prepared food section, which will offer everything from fresh-pressed juices to grab-and-go items, including salads, sushi and rotisserie chicken. The community market will also sell, and serve, beer and wine."

Image: The Market Hall

Already in town: Bottega Americano

SAN FRANCISCO

The Market Hall

Location: 185 Channel St., Mission Bay
Projected opening: June 15, 2015
Outlets: Produce, cheese, meat, seafood, charcuterie, beer and wine, a full-service restaurant, and more

The last of four Market Hall outposts currently on the way from LA's Tony Riviera, this one will be the flagship location. Eater SF aptly describes it "as a grocery and specialty foods emporium with a strong prepared foods focus à la Eataly or Dean & DeLuca." Occupying the ground floor of an apartment building, patrons can expect "10,000 square feet spanning fresh meat, poultry, seafood, and locally sourced produce, plus cheese, charcuterie, and retail beer and wine," with a heavy focus on locally sourced items and a variety of prepared foods from sushi to rotisserie chicken. The space will also include a full-service restaurant "featuring pizza, pasta, oysters, and small plates."

Image: The Market Hall

Already in town: Ferry Building Marketplace, The Hall, The Market

SEATTLE

Chophouse Row

Location: 11th Ave. between East Pike and East Union streets, Capitol Hill
Projected opening: Late April or early May 2015
Vendors: Chop Shop Cafe & Bar, Chop Shop Juice and Provisions, Kurt Farm Shop, Bar Ferd'nand, Amandine/Empire Espresso

The developer behind the established Melrose Market is preparing to launch another food hall as part of a major revamp of a 1920s auto parts shop. Eater Seattle says the project will be anchored by a cafe and a juice bar from Volunteer Park Cafe chef-owner Ericka Burke; other tenants include a micro-shop stocked with locally made cheese and ice cream from Kurtwood Farms, a wine bar, and a bakery specializing in macarons that will share space with a coffee shop.

· All Chophouse Row Coverage [ESEA]

Images: Dunn + Hobbes

Already in town: The Market Hall, Melrose Market, Pike Place Market

TIJUANA

Plaza Rio Tijuana Food Garden

Location: Vía Poniente, Zona Río
Projected opening: April 2015
Vendors: Oyster bar, rotisserie, burgers, pizza, coffee shop, two bars, more

Plaza Río Tijuana, an open-air shopping mall in Tijuana's main business district, will soon gain an 11,000-square-foot food hall. The project is slated to feature "12 kitchens run by some of the region's most notable chefs," including an oyster and ceviche bar from San Diego's Javier Plascencia and a rotisserie by chef Martin San Roman. "Other food stands will feature burgers, pizza, carnitas, vegan, and Lebanese cuisine," says Eater San Diego. There will also be a demonstration kitchen for culinary demos and classes, as well as a market component selling cheese, wine, chocolates, and desserts.

· All Mercado Food Garden Coverage [ESD]

Image: Food Garden

WASHINGTON D.C.

Maketto

Location: 1351 H Street NE, Atlas District
Projected opening: Early Spring 2015
Vendors: Vigilante Coffee, Frenchie's Bakery

Chef-owner Erik Bruner-Yang of ramen hot spot Toki Underground is collaborating with Will Sharp, the creative director of DC-based streetwear brand DURKL, on this highly anticipated project. Maketto will be a two-level southeast Asian street food restaurant and market that will also include retail, food stalls, and a coffee shop. The project has been a long time coming, but Maketto is finally slated to make its debut in the coming months.

· All Maketto Coverage [EDC]

Already in town: Union Market

Image: Maketto