On Wednesday, September 28th, the highly-anticipated Tin Building by Chef Jean-Georges officially opened in our beloved downtown at New York’s Seaport.
Before the festivities, Chef Jean-Georges and David O’Reilly (Howard Hughes’ CEO) were honored with the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
The grand opening like no other offered spectators and invited guests a celebration starting with a spectacular procession of more than 50 chefs in chef’s whites carrying a giant fish sculpture parading on the Seaport’s historic cobblestone streets. Jean Georges is proud to pay homage to the original Fulton Fish Market of1922, and the original Tin Building market which opened its doors in 1907.
Attended by more than 1,200 New Yorkers and culinary icons like Martha Stewart, Carla Hall, Melba Wilson, Brooke Shields, Grace DeNiro, Baby Face, Quest Love, our CEO/Founder Grace A. Capobianco, Editor in Chief Deb Martin, and more.
Jean-Georges greeted his guests with a vibrant parade of chefs and the cutting of a green ribbon, which was accompanied by remarks from Vongerichten, O’Reilly, and Melissa Román Burch (COO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation).
The Tin Building boasts 9 different restaurants for visitors to sit down and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Frenchman’s Dough serves Italian cuisine with a French twist. Their Cacio e Pepe is my recommendation!
House of the Red Pearl is a DOWNTOWN favorite. The Chinese-inspired restaurant hidden behind the Mercantile on Floor 2 gives off a speakeasy vibe while diners enjoy dishes like Glazed Maine Lobster Efu and Mala Chicken. DOWNTOWN Editor in Chief Deb Martin recommends that guests “order everything on the menu,” and says that “Chef de cuisine Matt Rojas…is doing amazing things with food. This beautiful space evokes the glamour of the 1930s and tastes like a fusion of Szechuan cuisine hovering over a base of something entirely new and modern.”
Other options include Shikku (sushi and sake), Double Yolk (breakfast and lunch), Fulton Fish Co. (seafood), Seeds and Weeds (vegan and vegetarian), Taquito (Mexican), T Café (coffee and pastries), and T Brassiere (French).
In addition to 9 stunning restaurants, visitors will also find a market like no other, at The Tin Building, advertised as containing everything a person might need to create restaurant-quality food in their own home. From Jean-Georges exclusives to fresh meat and seafood, along with mouth-watering artisanal fromage, unique and classic bakery items, produce displayed like a Picasso painting, beautiful flowers displayed at the Bloom Room flower stand, and oh my the intoxicating sweets from Spoiled Parrot, there’s nothing you can’t find at The Tin Building.
The 53,000-square-foot marketplace brings with it 700 new jobs to downtown NYC and marks a significant point in the revitalization of downtown after Hurricane Sandy.
DOWNTOWN Founder/CEO Grace A. Capobianco attended the opening celebration and said, “One can only describe the grand opening of the long-awaited Tin Building as magical, as it is delicious truly one of the greatest culinary markets in history. We are thankful that Chef Jean-Georges is now a large part of the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. A heartfelt congratulations!”
Photos by Nicole Franzen and BFA unless otherwise noted. The lead image depicts the Central Market.