Merchants Hospitality will open its new location, Industry Kitchen, in the Seaport late March or early April.
Richard Cohn, a partner of the group, announced the news while presenting the signage for the restaurant at Community Board 1’s Financial District Committee meeting on Wed., Feb. 4.
Industry Kitchen is located at 70 South St., near Maiden Lane and Pier 15, underneath the elevated F.D.R. Drive.
“We’ve been working on Industry Kitchen for awhile now,” said Cohn. “The long road is finally coming to an end. I think when spring has sprung we’re going be ready to be open.”
Cohn said that construction on the restaurant got interrupted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
SHoP Architects, which has also worked on the East River esplanade and on the Howard Hughes Corp. Seaport plan, designed the building that houses the restaurant.
Cohn described the signs as “industrial contemporary” fitting with the architecture. The signage is stainless steel, he explained, with a LED backlit that will splash light over the sign but that will not be a real bright illumination.
Cohn said that the opening should be end of March, first week of April, but “it’s construction so hopefully we don’t have any more unforeseen conditions.”
The restaurant, which will close by 2 a.m., will be open year round for lunch and dinner and will have outdoor seating weather permitting. After Sandy, Merchants had hosted a “pop-up” restaurant at the location, said Cohn.
“Our hope and desire is because it is right across from South Street that we’re going get both the residents and the office tenants to come by,” he said.
The menu is based on “seasonal market ingredients, simply prepared,” said Cohn — with pizzas, pasta, salad and grilled meats offered.
The committee was pleased with the signage.
“It looks very tasteful to me,” said Ro Sheffe, chairperson. “As long as it is not overly lighted.”
The committee did not have a quorum, but will recommend approval.
Merchants Hospitality owns several restaurants in Lower Manhattan — Black Hound and SouthWest NY in Battery Park City, Pound & Pence in the Financial District, and Watermark Bar and Cones Cafe near Pier 15 in the Seaport.
—Dusica Sue Malesevic
