Williamsburg Vegan Stalwart Wild Ginger Flees to North 10th to Escape High Rents

The Soho-ification of a particular part of Williamsburg (essentially a two block radius around the Bedford Avenue stop) is pushing vegan staple Wild Ginger further north. The outlet has been feeding hipsters in the neighborhood since 2006, but a manager tells Bedford + Bowery that the rent just got too high. "Ten years ago, it used to be $5,000, now they're asking for at least $17,000, $20,000. That's too crazy." Some of those rent hikes come from rising luxury condos nearby, but it's hard to deny the impact of corporate boutique companies like McNally Jackson moving in, and a large Blue Bottle in the works on North 4th. Longtime Bedford resident Spike Hill also shuttered recently. All is not lost for the vegans of Williamsburg, however: Wild Ginger is slated to reopen at 182 North 10th Street in a slightly larger space by the end of February.