Franklin Becker's Little Beet Nears Fast Casual Chaindom With Second Midtown Outpost

Former EMM group chef Franklin Becker is working on the second Midtown outpost of the Little Beet, his foray into the realm of healthy fast casual operations with Aurify Brands, in early August at 320 Park Avenue. It will be around the same size as the original on 50th Street, and should serve the same menu of salads, protein plates, cold pressed juices and gluten free things. It will also feature artwork created by the winner of a contest the cafe is currently holding (the winner also gets $1,500).

Between this and the outpost in a mall on Long Island, the Little Beet is clearly well on its way to certifiable chaindom. It's no Sweetgreen, sure, but a representative says more outposts are on the way "in NYC and possibly other markets," so it could be big pretty soon. But Becker hasn't forsaken full-service dining either – he also has the Little Beet Table, the grown-up version of the Little Beet, and he's working on a steakhouse with restaurateur Richie Notar.

Update: A representative tells Eater that "plans have been put on pause" for the steakhouse.