South Street Seaport's Food Future, Explained

South Street Seaport has rebranded itself to Seaport District NYC and the identity change comes with a slew of new dining options. For months, news has been rolling out about big-name chefs signing deals deep downtown, and now, finally, some of those spaces are ready to open.

The switch-up is courtesy of new ownership — The Howard Hughes Corporation, a publicly-traded real estate developer with apparently good taste in food. It’s spending a whopping $730 million to redo the 400,000-square-feet of space with new restaurants, shops, and entertainment, which includes David Chang and Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurants in Pier 17. The company kicked things off with the iPic theater opening in October.

To take advantage of the summer months, the Seaport District will be hosting a slew of summer pop-ups meant to bring visitors back to the area, which has been under construction for a long time. Here now, a rundown of what to expect come late May and beyond.

Seaport Summer Venues

Food Lab

A pop-up restaurant will feature rotating guest chefs this summer into early fall. Big names such as Paul Kahan (Publican), Alon Shaya (Shaya), Jessica Koslow (Sqirl), and more will rotate through the space from June 19 through October 14 for two weeks at a time.

If this concept sounds familiar, that’s because it is: Chefs Club has been doing exactly this for almost three years now. Here, the bi-level space has an open kitchen with an upstairs private chef table. A partnership with Sixpoint Brewery ensures that every guest chef will create a custom beer for their time, and drink menus will rotate with the chefs. Reservations will be made through Resy.

The full lineup is:

June 19 to July 2: Chicago empire builder Paul Kahan will preview his upcoming Chicago restaurant Pacific Standard Time alongside chefs Erling Wu-Bower and Cosmo Goss.

July 8 - 21: Atlanta-area chef and Top Chef judge Hugh Acheson will cook Southern food during his tenure.

July 29 to August 12: The chef-owner of Eater New Orleans’ 2015 restaurant of the year, Alon Shaya, is taking over to cook Israeli cuisine.

August 19 to September 2: Sqirl emulates the “sun-soaked fantasy of Los Angeles,” and owner Jessica Koslow is bringing those rays to the East Coast for two weeks through a preview of her upcoming LA restaurant Tel.

September 9 - 23: New York’s own Dale Talde will be cooking food from around the world.

October 2 - 15: To be announced

Opens June 19 at 203 Front Street

The Garden Bar

A pergola draped in greenery will be the romantic setting for the outdoor garden bar, a 78-foot space with cocktails and beer from Sixpoint and Corona. There’s also a private lounge for Chase cardholders.

Opens May 24 at Fulton and Front Streets

The Front Row Food Market

Food trucks will park here in a Smorgasburg-style street food display. Trucks have not yet been finalized.

Opens May 24 on Front Street between Fulton and Beekman Streets

Clinton Hall

This pub bases itself on offering 20 rotating draft beers alongside 20 burgers, plus table games.

Opens May 17 at 19 Fulton Street

Mr. Cannon Speakeasy

The Seaport is holding its cards close with this one, with just a cryptic description on the website about a fictional Mr. Cannon and his sidekick José. The address for the speakeasy-style bar is a “secret,” surely to be announced in dramatic fashion soon.

Opens June 19 through August 31

Beyond Summer

Seaport District NYC

Jean-Georges Vongerichten

A 7,300-square-foot casual restaurant a la ABC Kitchen, is headed to Pier 17, courtesy of mega-chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his partner Phil Suarez. The pair is also opening a 50,000-square-foot seafood market in the historic Tin Building next to Pier 17, which will feature counters for "chowders, raw bars, sushi, shrimp" and other delicacies. It’s intended to be a marquee restaurant in its main building, along with a retail component that will be thematically similar to the legendary Fulton Fish Market, which lived in the area for nearly two centuries before moving to The Bronx in 2005. Expect a 2018 opening. — Serena Dai Coming “soon” to Pier 17

David Chang

David Chang has big plans for a new concept at Pier 17, slated to open in 2018. There aren’t many details beyond the fact that it will be a full-service space. Coming “soon” to Pier 17

By Chloe

Uber-trendy veggie burger destination By Chloe is opening a 2,500-square-foot outpost on Front Street, reportedly also this year. Coming “soon” to Front Street

• All Coverage of South Street Seaport [ENY]
• Seaport District NYC [Official Site]
• Seaport Lures Guest Chefs for Dinner Series [NYT]