World-renowned celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson has signed on to open up a restaurant in one of downtown Newark’s most prominent buildings, adding another feather in the cap to both the city’s revitalization and to a historic landmark that’s undergoing a thorough restoration.
The restaurant, which thus far is unnamed, will be taking up residence in 2,250-square-feet of the newly revived Hahne & Co. building. The project, being undertaken by L+M Development, will preserve many historic details of the century-old department store that has been vacant for years and transform it into a mixed-use property with 160 apartments, a Whole Foods market and various other retail that will now include Samuelsson’s latest culinary endeavor.
Samuelsson, born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden by adopted parents, is a James Beard award winner who has published several cookbooks and has appeared on programs like Bravo’s Top Chef and Food Network’s Chopped. He is the mastermind and owner behind Red Rooster in Harlem, which specializes in Southern comfort food.
Samuelsson told The Wall Street Journal that the inspiration to invest in Newark is similar to what initially drew him to Harlem years ago. “There were certain blocks that people refused to deliver to, and I didn’t like that idea,” Mr. Samuelsson told the paper. “When you say ‘we don’t deliver on that block,’ there are a lot of things you’re saying.”
The latest Newark restaurant will be a partnership between Samuelsson and Ron Moelis, who is a founding partner of L+M Development. The two became business partners at Red Rooster back in 2013 and it sounds like the company is thrilled about the collaboration continuing.
“We are very excited to bring Marcus Samuelsson to Hahne’s and to offer everyone who lives in, works in or visits Newark a dining experience from one of the best chefs in the world,” says Jonathan Cortell, Vice President of Development at L+M.
While both the concept and menu of the restaurant are reportedly still being worked out, Samuelsson should open up his Newark outpost sometime next year.
[gmap height=”250px”]609 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102[/gmap]
609 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102
