After Boston’s largest food hall announced Wednesday that it would be closing later this month, a popular food outlet expressed plans to take it over.
Time Out Market in Fenway, which operated for nearly seven years, revealed on Jan. 14 that the massive food hall is closing for good on Jan. 23.
CEO Michael Marlay said the decision to shut down the 27,000-square-foot space was largely driven by a decline in business.
“Following the pandemic, we have seen the Boston Market recover and grow, and we have focused on initiatives driving further growth,” Marlay said in an online statement. “However, footfall until today remains inconsistent in the area due to ongoing hybrid working, and in addition, operating costs have increased — all of which prevents consistent profitability.“
He added that “it has been an honor to serve Boston” and that Time Out Market has ”loved our time” in the city.
“Boston is a fantastic city with outstanding food and cultural scenes. We want to thank our team, our chefs and restaurateurs who truly are the best of the city — it is thanks to all of them that the Boston Market has been a wonderful place for our guests, whom we also would like to thank wholeheartedly,” Marlay continued. “We are proud to have been able to give our vendors a platform in Time Out Market. We will continue to champion these outstanding, best-of-the-city talents. We hope to welcome many of you as our guests at the Market this month to enjoy our vendors’ amazing food.”
On Thursday, Phantom Gourmet shared a Facebook post indicating that the food program is planning to transform Time Out Market into “an exciting new culinary destination” featuring local eats, celebrity bartenders and live music.
“Re-imagining the traditional food court, this vibrant new concept brings together legendary local restaurants, a high-energy central bar and live weekend entertainment — all under one strikingly redesigned roof,” Phantom Gourmet’s post reads.
The TV show said the new food court will house brands including Wahlburgers, Harrows, Kowloon, Newbridge Cafe, Galleria Umberto and Abe & Louie’s Cheesesteaks.
A bar, located in the center of the space, will host celebrity bartenders such as Tad Bonvie, Ernie Boch Jr. and Jim Sokolove, according to Phantom Gourmet.
The venue will also be entirely redesigned to feature “rich purple hues throughout the space,” while live music will take place on weekends, according to the food show.
“This project is about celebrating Boston — its food, its characters and its culture — in one dynamic space,” a spokesperson for The Phantom Gourmet said in the post.
More details about the new concept are expected to be announced in the near future.
Time Out opened in June 2019, in the Landmark Center in Fenway, which is now called 401 Park. The massive hall is located at 401 Park Drive on the corner of Brookline Avenue.
Time Out Market has 15 food and beverage concepts, including local staples such as Union Square Donuts, anoush’ella, A&B Burgers, Far Out Ice Cream, Lulu Green and more. Time Out also hosts dozens of events and live music.
The market is part of the global Time Out brand that has locations around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London and Miami.
The first Time Out Market opened in Lisbon in 2014, while Boston was the company’s fourth city. Time Out Market will close its Chicago food hall this month.
Dining and Cooking