Tom Selementi

Jersey City, NJ (USA)
Role(s):
Other

Exchange North

Find More Startups Startup
Location: New York
Industry: Food Service/Restaurant
Year Founded: 2016
Number Employees: 100-250 people
Business Stage: Growth (profitable)
Entity Type: Limited Liability Company
Description: If you have eaten out in NYC or any other major city recently, then most likely you have stumbled across a food hall. These are popping up everywhere in NYC from Penn Station to Canal St and arguably started with Smorgasburg in Brooklyn. As with all things hot in NYC, eventually they make their way to affluent suburbs and that is what I would like to do here. There is a small operator named Gerry Bird in South Jersey who has done this on a smaller scale with the Exchange in Lynwood NJ. Looking at areas like Hudson and Bergen County in NJ, I would like to convert a large (20,000 Sq ft) warehouse into a food hall destination. As malls continue to suffer, the restaurants are the anchors that are keeping them alive. It isn't long until food halls replace the food courts. Here is a description of the concepts we have ready for this endeavor. Look and feel - open, warehouse, large windows, exposed mechanicals. When you are dining in a specific concept, warm lighting, cozy. The whole space should flow, so a clear beginning and ending if you are coming into it for the first time. Two entrances, one to a market and one to a coffee shop/dessert shop so you need to pass one or the other on the way out and in. Concepts: Fair Game by Lafrieda - Pat Lafrieda is the biggest name in high quality meat and I have a close relationship with them. This would be a pacific northwest concept - deer and moose busts on the wall, wine and beer list featuring Oregon, northern California and Washington. Game menu - elk, bison, wild boar, lamb, seafood etc, a chicken and steak dish to make it more approachable Bricks - Brick oven pizza concept, Italian rustic pastas - cacao e pepe, tagliatelle ragu, meatballs, fresh baked bread in the pizza oven. All Italian wines, Italian beers. Rachel Feldman's - Jewish Deli (quick service) - order from the counter, Katz style, pastrami, corned beef, schmaltz, pickles, knishes, liver and onions, a couple of kosher Italian specialties too, to make it more approachable Berkhamsted Station - British style country pub, beef and stilton pie, scotch eggs, sausages, bubble and squeak, Yorkshire pudding, a burger and steak dish to make it more approachable, british style ales, scotches Ramen - sub lease to Ani Ramen. Google them, they are awesome Coffee - sub lease to Mod Cup or Rook coffee Ice cream - sub lease - not known yet Taco Rhea - Authentic west coast style taqueria (not lettuce and tomato and cheese on tacos, think onion and cilantro), black and whites of cheers photos (tribute to Rhea Perlman) El Coco y La Pina - Cuban - ropa vieja, empanadas, sangria, mojitos, arroz con pollo, vaca frita etc. pre-castro Cuban décor - rum menu Market featuring high end products that highlight our brands, british, Japanese, Italian etc Childrens library and play area - drop off. We staff it with people to watch over the kids (like a classier version of what ikea does) This is a surefire homerun that is already humming. (URL removed) (URL removed) We would like to use the funds that are raised for the purposes below: -Operating/Growth Capital (Payroll, Sales & Marketing, etc)