Why Food Halls Are All the Rage

Colombi: “We focused on choosing tenants that not only had good food, but also had a large social-media presence.”

IRVINE, CA—People are seeking a unique dining experience and variety at a reasonable price point, and food halls offer all three—but that’s not the only reason food halls are growing in popularity, CBRE broker Annika Colombi tells GlobeSt.com. Colombi was the leasing broker for TRADE Food Hall, a 9,000-square-foot food marketplace here that is being transformed following $5 million in renovations. The 32,600-square-foot Trade Marketplace that houses the food hall was purchased by Lincoln Property Co. and Alcion Ventures in 2014, and the owners have since transformed its dated food court into what aims to be a premier dining experience, complete with crafted cuisine from around the world, a full-service bar and indoor/outdoor communal dining.

Leases have been signed with eight chef-driven tenants, and the food hall is slated to open this fall. Chef Andrew Gruel of Slapfish will curate two of the eight food concepts: Two Birds will offer Gruel’s take on classic grilled and fried chicken, while Butterleaf, a plant-based concept, will be a celebration of vegetables with a menu that includes kimchi, flash-seared vegetables and sweet-potato-mushroom burgers. Chef Hop Phan, known for his food trucks, will also curate two fusion concepts: Phan’s Dos Chinos will offer Vietnamese and Mexican fusion, and Megadon will serve a fusion of Latin, Asian, Mexican and Hawaiian. Other concepts featured at TRADE include artisan sandwiches by the Sandwich Society, fresh seafood by Portside, dessert by Sweet Comforts and Mediterranean fare by Gyro King.