Another Food Hall Announced for the East Bay

A food hall is headed to Walnut Creek, courtesy of the developers behind Teleferic, Slice House, Va de Vi, and more. The still-unnamed project (it was originally reported as The Foundry, but will no longer be called that) will be a multi-building and -level complex at 1250 Locust St. Out of 33,387 square feet, 70 percent will be devoted to restaurant space, a la the Ferry Building and Oxbow Market, with the remaining 10 percent slated as seating and shared space.

Brian Hirahara, who owns of BH Development, is behind the project, and his company developed much of Walnut Creek’s restaurant scene, including Rooftop Restaurant & Bar and Va de Vi. Hirahara told Eater that he wants to create not only a dining space, but also a social one.

“These food halls are very dynamic and community centric, and we plan to approach it that way, to create a social element,” he said. That will happen through a custom children’s play structure in the courtyard, entertainment, and family movie nights. “It’s more than just food; it’s community- and entertainment-based as well.”

Robert Becker/IDF Global

Hirahara is remaining mum on the concepts he hopes to bring into the space, but said it will be a mix of existing and new brands. The main floor is for non-chain, fast casual spots, as well as food purveyors. The second floor will house a rooftop restaurant and bar, with space for entertainment, and the courtyard outside will be surrounded by separate buildings for beer and wine. The courtyard will mainly house seating, as well as the playground, a koi pond, and a water wall.

Hirahara acknowledged that it’s an interesting time to bring such a large project to fruition, with restaurants closing quickly around the area, but he pointed to several factors that may ensure its success, including lower capital investment for restaurateurs and the continuing demand for high-quality, fast casual spaces (similar to The Market in San Francisco).

The food hall is still about two years away from opening, so stay tuned for more details.

• High-end ‘food hall’ proposed for downtown Walnut Creek [East Bay Times]
• Will Fast-Casual Restaurants Save Mid-Market? [ESF]