By Lisa Kava
Food lovers will be pleased to discover an exciting new addition to the West Harlem campus of Columbia University. Manhattanville Market, a modern food hall with a global flair, opened on Friday, June 25th, at 3229 Broadway (West 130th Street), in the Jerome L. Greene Science Center. Founded by Chef Franklin Becker, who is also a cookbook author and television personality, Manhattanville Market is open to the general public daily from 11 AM to 8 PM.
Visitors to Manhattanville Market will find a healthy selection and a variety of food options. The market is host to four eateries where food can be ordered, paid for, picked up at a counter, and then brought to a table. Three are original concepts created by Chef Becker. Shai Hummusiya serves Mediterranean and Israeli inspired food, including hummus, falafel, chicken shawarma, and vegetarian dishes. Benny Casanova’s is a Sicilian pizzeria specializing in square pies. The Botanist, serves fresh salads and vegetable based creations. Finally, Butterfunk Biscuit Co., a joint venture between Chef Becker and Chef Chris Scott, serves an assortment of sandwiches “on a biscuit recipe passed down by over four generations.” Chef Scott, of Butterfunk Kitchen and Butterfunk Biscuit Company, was a semi-finalist on the television show Top Chef.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Chef Becker was formerly executive chef at Capitale, corporate executive chef of the Emm group, and executive chef of The Little Beet. He has been at the helm of a number of NYC restaurants (including Abe and Arthurs, Lexington Brass, and CATCH restaurants), and was invited to compete on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters in 2013. He is the author of three cookbooks, (Eat & Beat Diabetes, The Diabetic Chef, and Good Fat Cooking.) Becker founded the website www.hungryroot.com, a grocery and recipe delivery service.
The inspiration for Manhattanville Market was “to provide West Harlem with a comprehensive food offering that captured the needs of the neighborhood,” Becker said. “Things are going great so far and guests really seem to enjoy the space and the offerings.” TimeOut said,”While the construction of Columbia’s Manhattanville campus has been controversial, the new food hall is working to support the neighborhood. Chef Becker and his team are committed to hiring from the surrounding area. They’re also working with as many local providers, purveyors, and community culinary talent as possible.”
With floor-to-ceiling windows, Manhattanville Market has an open, airy and crisp feel. The space was designed by Glen Coben of Glen & Co Architecture.
Chef Becker plans to expand upon Manhattanville Market in the fall. Additions will include a full-service Spanish tapas restaurant called Oliva, a farmer’s market, and events featuring live music. “We want this to be a hub for everyone,” Becker said. “The general public has been very supportive.”
For more information on Manhattanville Market go to www.manhattanvillemarket.com
The menu looks tasty.
But a big wow….a Columbia University commercial food cafe open to the public?
Columbia University which has not-for-profit status and developed this part of the campus by displacing longtime residents and businesses….
Nobody was displaced. The area was all abandoned warehouse space and 1 Shell gas station and that guy was handsomely paid for the inconvenience of “retiring” from pumping gas
Would it preferable for it to be “closed to the public”?
I don’t think so, this looks like a public amenity to me.
(As to your statements on displacing residents, etc., I have no background to comment on this)
Manhattanville Market was built on derelict industrial space.
There was not a single resident or business that was displaced from this food hall.
Stop ranting ignorant nonsense.
In fact, MM is providing jobs and reasonably priced food for the community.
Otis
Yes this market building was industrial.
But other Manhattanville campus buildings did displace residents.
Provide one single example of any person or business being displaced by Manhattanville Campus.
You can’t because it never happened.
If anyone or anything was displaced there would be huge protests – probably led by Columbia students.
As I said, stop spreading ignorant nonsense.
Manhattanville Campus is a net benefit to both Columbia students and the community. I personally look forward to eating at this food hall.
“If anyone or anything was displaced there would be huge protests – probably led by Columbia students.”
There WERE protests, and they happened while I was a student at Columbia. But nice try.
Your arrogant dismissal of the comments by js is unwarranted, considering that a simple Google search would have verified his complaints about the displacement of residential tenants & small, commercial businesses in the area, a fact underscored by the reported need to resort to eminent domain to acquire properties. You may or may not be correct about the eventually beneficial effects of Columbia’s intrusion in the neighborhood, but clearly there were significant community concerns about the project from the outset.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/20/nyregion/20columbia.html?referringSource=articleShare
https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/nyregion/21gas.html?referringSource=articleShare
https://www.columbiaspectator.com/2008/12/18/mville-expansion-clears-last-major-hurdle-state-approves-eminent-domain/
Exactly right, js. Thanks for pointing this out.
This space is a welcoming addition to the neighborhood, I can commend especially the baked beet dish, as well as the salads. Interiors are light, and welcoming.
You cannot stop change. Nothing stays the same. Columbia, with its sensitivity to dislocating people from the gym project, did not do that here. And, whenever it builds in the area, it tries to incorporate opportunities for the neighborhood in its buildings. But, because it is one of the oldest and largest real estate holders in the city, it is inevitable that it will continue to upgrade its holdings, especially the oldest dilapidated ones. And, whenever it does, we will hear this kind of pushback. It’s not the gym!
I am thrilled. Nothing like this in my neighborhood on 138 and Bway/Hamilton. Really excited to try it. It is a gift to the neighborhood!
Thanks to Alan Barnes. He is absolutely correct.