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Union Fare 2 Food Halls Wine Bars Flatiron

Modernity is at the core of this trendy restaurant, gastro-hall, and bakery. With a progressive contemporary American menu, Union Fare offers customers a diverse assortment of food in a unique setting. Their large, open space is complete with a market, bakery, beer bar, cocktail bar, restaurant, and café that turns into a wine bar by night. Previously a Barnes and Noble, the high-ceilinged hall is now adorned with industrial light fixtures, brick walls, high tables, and reclaimed wood. As Will Kim, the owner of Union Fare, explained, the space is inspired by “the multiple layers of time and age that the landmark offered and the purpose of fusing superior hospitality within a casual, high energy setting.”

Union Fare is in the heart of Union Square and is looking to serve the sophisticated and diverse cosmopolitan crowd that congregates in the area. They place an emphasis on quality service delivered in a casual and fun environment. Union Fare’s specialties include a raw bar, charcuterie station, and a selection of gourmet baked goods. Their bakery is becoming well-known for its photogenic birthday cake cream-filled croissant. As Will shared with me, they are looking to establish themselves as an iconic establishment that serves their customers with “integrity, quality and joy.”

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Union Fare 3 Food Halls Wine Bars Flatiron

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Ken Giddon likes to say that he went “from riches to rags” by leaving a career as a bond trader to reopen his grandfather’s men’s clothing store. Harry Rothman used to peddle his wares from a pushcart on Delancey Street in the 1920s before moving into a retail space. “He kind of created the concept of a discount clothing store, ” Ken remarked. Rothman's closed for a time after Harry’s death in 1985, but Ken revived the business a year later in a stunning, 11, 000-square-foot storefront on the corner of 18th Street in Union Square. “I love being on a side street. It gives us the ability to afford a bigger space while watching the movable feast that is New York walk by every day. ” Five years after the shop’s reopening, Ken invited his brother, Jim, to join him. “This is one of the true family businesses in Manhattan. ” The store, which carries both casual and formal attire from top designers, aims to make the shopping experience for men “as efficient and rewarding as possible. ” To this end, Ken and Jim scour the market, travel abroad, and attend numerous trade shows to find the best brands. “We try to provide our customers with that personal, small-town feel in the middle of the city, ” Jim said. Despite Rothman's more modern look and merchandise, the brothers strive to keep some core elements of their grandfather’s business alive, particularly by preserving his humble approach to owning a men’s retail store. As Harry used to say, “It’s not so serious what we do. We just sell pants for a living. ”