LIC Partnership
The Falchi Building will host food retailers and eateries.
A former warehouse in Long Island City that’s owned by the developers of the Chelsea Market will be transformed into Queens version of the celebrated foodie paradise, the Daily News has learned.
Jamestown Properties is already bringing in artisanal food makers to occupy the ground floor of the Falchi Building on 47th Ave. near LaGuardia Community College.
“It’s the right type of image for the neighborhood,” said Dana Frankel of the Long Island City Partnership. “It aligns well with the neighborhood’s history and culture of creating things.”
One of the flagship tenants in the new market will be Artisanal Premium Cheese, which buys and sells curds from all over the world. The company will have a shop and a restaurant in the new market and will expand its aging caves.
About 20 full-time workers will be hired, too.
“We’re going to bring a whole new dimension to the neighborhood,” said Daniel Dowe, the CEO and president.
Amy’s Bread — which is already in the Chelsea Market — is also in talks to open a kiosk in the new food boutique.
“We’re hoping to do it,” said owner Amy Scherber, who already bakes bread in a Long Island City plant. “There’s not enough good food around here.”
Jamestown officials refused to comment for this story.
Long Island City has been transformed from manufacturing to luxury towers rising on the waterfront — and trendy boutiques and restaurants have followed.
But the Falchi Building, built in 1922 as a warehouse and distribution site for the now-defunct Gimbels department store, has not enjoyed the renaissance until now.
Jamestown bought it last year, reportedly paying $80 million.
The company’s reps approached the Entrepreneur Space, which provides a commercial kitchen for food start-ups, last month about having some of its clients set up relatively inexpensive kiosks and stands inside and outside of the building.
“It’s opening up avenues for these artisanal food manufacturers” that can’t afford the $15,000 to $50,000 for a food cart or truck, said Katherine Gregory, who runs the Entrepreneur Space.
“[Jamestown] wants start-ups. They want unique people,” she said. “They want people that have been doing street fairs … to have a more permanent location.”
The market is also expected to be a hit with area residents and office workers — as well as foodies seeking out hand-crafted products.
“There’s a growing demand,” said Meg Cotner, author of “Food Lovers’ Guide to Queens.” “People want to explore this kind of food.”
