CW Retail - Food Halls Report

Ferry Building Marketplace

T he historic San Francisco Ferry Building dates back to 1898. Until the opening of the Golden Gate and San Francisco Bay Bridges in the 1930s, ferries were the quickest way to cross the Bay and the Ferry Building was the region’s premier transit hub. After the bridges were completed, ferry usage declined and the building eventually found itself in need of repair. Following a major renovation in 2003, the project’s current incarnation, The Ferry Building Marketplace, was launched, placing this project at the center of Northern California epicurean life. Our view is that the Ferry Building Marketplace is one of the best examples of the modern food hall in the U.S. The 65,000-sf projects features around 40 restaurants and specialty food purveyors, including a mix of artisanal suppliers (Cowgirl Creamery, Acme Bread Company,

Beekind, Boccolone Salumeria, Dandelion Chocolate, Fort Point Beer Company, McEvoy Ranch, Prather Ranch Meat Company and others). In addition, it offers a diverse mix of prepared food concepts ranging from street foods (El Porteno Empanadas, Out the Door, Mijita) to sit-down options (The Slanted Door, Gott’s Roadside, et al) as well as food-themed retail (Sur La Table, Bram Cookware and others). This project also retains some of the typical characteristics of classic American food halls; it remains a transit hub and it has evolved into one of San Francisco’s premier tourist destinations. The lively Saturday farmers market outside the building is a must for any food-loving visitor who ends up in San Francisco on a weekend. Food + Wine Magazine agrees with us; it recently ranked this project as number one on its list of the World’s Top 25 Food Markets.

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

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