The first authentic Singapore hawker centre is set to open in New York City in early 2022.
KF Seetoh, the founder of Makansutra, which operates several food courts in Singapore, is partnering with US operator Urbanspace to bring a 10,000-sq ft/929-sqm food market with 18 street-food vendors to Midtown Manhattan.
The food hall, which will be similar to an Asian night market, will open at 135 West 50th Street, within walking distance of Times Square. The stalls will offer modern takes on dishes such as chilli crab, oyster omelette and nasi lemak, according to US media.
The food hall is located near major tourist attractions like Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, the Rockefeller Center and Central Park. “The location is also a real coup,” said Eldon Scott, the founder of Urbanspace. “We are building an incredibly active through-block arcade that will literally "complete" the missing gap in Holly Whyte’s dream for the "6 and ½ Avenue" connecting 48th-50th with 51st to 57th Streets. It’s going to be a must-see place for serious street-food aficionados!” William H. (Holly) Whyte was an American advocate for public spaces in urban settings.
Food guru Seetoh founded the World Street Food Congress and helped get Singapore’s street food culture inscribed on UNESCO‘s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list last year.
Eight years ago, Seetoh was tapped by the late Anthony Bourdain as a consultant for his Bourdain Market. The project was cancelled after failing to acquire a lease but Bourdain always wanted to bring a Singapore food hall to NYC. "I remain hopeful that New York will someday have such a market — I still passionately wish to create this resource that New Yorkers deserve,” Bourdain said.
