Filipino Fast Food Favorite Jollibee is Opening a Massive Times Square Flagship

Jollibee is opening a Times Square flagship

Jollibee — the popular Filipino fast food chain that also has a devoted following in the U.S. — is gearing up to open its third location in the city, the Real Deal reports. This newest outpost will set up shop at 1500 Broadway, between West 43rd and 44th streets, and will also serve as the chain’s flagship in NYC.

The massive new space will be spread out over two levels with just over 3,000 square feet on the ground-floor level and an additional 4,000 square feet on a lower level. At present, the hit chain has another Manhattan outpost at 609 Eight Avenue, between West 39th and 40th streets, and a Queens location at 6229 Roosevelt Avenue, at 63rd Street. When the Manhattan location opened back in 2018, fans braved a nor’easter to wait in line for hours for the opening.

It’s not yet clear when the Times Square location will open, but Eater has reached out for more details. The Filipino fast food chain — as ubiquitous in the Philippines as McDonald’s are over here — has more than 1,300 locations across the world, including dozens in the U.S. This will, however, be just the third location in New York state.

In other news

— The State Liquor Authority quietly extended the existing pandemic-related law that allows for takeout cocktails. The extension expires April 6 this year, and is in line with the temporary extensions the SLA has been issuing throughout the pandemic. Separately, a bill introduced in the state legislature last year called for its extension for at least two years after the pandemic ended.

— Historic Brooklyn restaurant Gage & Tollner will finally open its resplendent dining room to customers for the first time on April 15. The pandemic-related shutdown pushed back its original opening plans on March 15, 2020, by more than a year.

— New York state officials have reached a deal to legalize recreational marijuana. The bill could pass the legislature as soon as next week, but may still be a year out from when legal marijuana sales can actually begin in the state.

— As part of a revamp, the James Hotel in Soho will get a new restaurant when the establishment opens in April or May this year following a pandemic-related shutdown. The new spot will replace David Burke Kitchen and Gitano, and is being developed by David Rabin, who also operates the hotel’s cocktail lounge Jimmy at the James.

— All of us this Friday: