This September, a new food hall is coming to the Garment District, called Deco Food + Drink, aimed to bring "under-the-radar eateries to a wider audience of locals and visitors." Dreamt up by Doris Huang, a former Godiva Chocolatier exec, the space will house nine mini-restaurants in total, offering a range of culinary options that will surround a central bar.

As food halls continue to sweep the city, Huang felt like the Garment District was long overdue for an eatery like this. “I used to work in the Garment District and I was puzzled by how poor the food and beverage options were for happy hours and lunch in the neighborhood—I wanted something more elevated,” Huang told Gothamist. Her solution to this dearth of diverse dining destinations was to create a space that is conveniently open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to midnight, which is when the bar will (tentatively) close. For those stopping by during their morning commute, there will be breakfast, coffee, and pastries, and food service will extend until about 10 p.m. for after-work dinners.

The nine food vendors, all independent operators, specialize in different cuisines—"It’s a great reflection of the culinary mash-up that is New York City,” Huang says. “In different pockets of the city you can truly access different foods from all over the world.” The space opens in September, but this week they release the vendor list:

  • Mademoiselle by Maman: Making its debut, Mademoiselle is the new daughter concept of Maman; the French café will serve coffee, baked goods, tartines and sweet treats passed down by French “mamans.”
  • Antojitos El Atoradero: Born in the South Bronx as a bodega selling street-style tacos and tamales, Antojitos El Atoradero is known for its homestyle approach to Mexican cooking, including their handmade tortillas and authentic Mexican recipes passed down from the owner’s mother, grandmother and aunt.
  • Huli Huli: Specializing in Hawaiian cuisine (from rotisserie chicken to Spam fried rice), Huli Huli makes its debut at The Deco; partners of the venture worked together at per se before striking out on their own.
  • Little Tong Noodle Shop: The contemporary Chinese restaurant that gained fame after opening in the East Village two years ago, Little Tong Noodle Shop will bring Chinese breakfast and mixian rice noodle dishes to The Deco, exposing New Yorkers to Chinese staples that are hard to find in Midtown Manhattan.
  • Papa Poule: A new concept from the Maman team, Papa Poule compliments Maman with heartier fare, including French-style rotisserie chicken.
  • Beach Bistro 96: With its original location in Queens’ Rockaway Beach, Beach Bistro 96 brings authentic Brazilian fare (Pasteis, Pão de Queijo, etc.) to Midtown with its new outpost at The Deco.
  • Mani in Pasta: Known for their traditional Roman style pizza, Mani in Pasta is creating an exclusive “Pizza Deco” just for this location.
  • Jeepney Filipino Specialists: A spinoff of Jeepney Filipino Gastropub in the East Village, this location will offer traditional Filipino cuisine to locals, tourists and office workers seven days a week.
  • Tipsy Scoop: During The Deco’s first month, Tipsy Scoop (a liquor-infused ice cream shop) will be hosting a pop-up concept in the front of The Deco, serving a mix of boozy and non-alcoholic sweet treats.

Huang will be running the in-house bar program herself, which will prioritize featuring New York draft and craft beers, between $8 to $10. Wine and cocktail options will cost between $10 to $15, and Huang says that many of the cocktails are “inspired by throwback recipes... think Waldorf Astoria, Speakeasy, Prohibition.” The Deco will also have an active happy hour program, complete with food and drink combos that weave the vendor’s menus in with the bar’s crowd. And since none of the food hall’s restaurants have dessert options, Huang intends to collaborate with other food and beverage companies to offer rotating pop-ups for sweets.

As far as the design inspiration, she was influenced by an older New York. “I spent quite a bit of time casually researching food halls in New York City, and I was struck by how many of them all looked the same from a design standpoint,” she said. "I wanted something that spoke to the guests as being a very New York place.” With this in mind, Huang and her team landed on a contemporary Art Deco look with Jazz Age sensibilities. “They brought a certain aesthetic eye to the space that’s very neutral but its very important to me that you walk in and feel transported in time, like you’re walking into Gatsby’s favorite bar,” Huang notes.

The Deco Food + Drink will open at 231 West 39th Street this September.