Blue Bottle Raises $25 Million for Expansion

Thanks to the $25 million Blue Bottle just raised from investors, the Oakland-based coffee roasters will be launching several more locations on both coasts in the near future. The top-tier coffee company plans to “expand retail operations, improve internal training programs and further develop its quality control department.” A Boerum Hill location, bottled iced coffee and an improved sustainability quotient include just a few of the exciting ventures in store for Blue Bottle.

About.me founder and True Ventures (the company that invested $20 million dollars in Blue Bottle in 2012) investor Tony Conrad lauded visionary/Blue Bottle Founder James Freeman:

“What we saw and why we got involved is that James and his team are part of a handful of people who are founding a movement around coffee. It’s not just the very specific experience around the coffee Blue Bottle roasts, it’s everything they do from the way they source the product; supporting farmers in developing regions of the world to grow the purest, highest quality organic beans that promote sustainability; the way they choose store locations that often act as a vote of confidence for a developing neighborhood; and how they serve the product (what cup, what glass, what temperature, single origin beans versus blended bean mixes, espresso drinks only on premise….). They think through every detail to offer something beautiful in our daily lives—it’s a philosophy/approach that has led to a movement around the integrity of experience around coffee.”

Organic Avenue to Open Vegan Grab-and-Go Concept

In an attempt to surpass the competition, Organic Avenue is launching a vegan grab-and-go concept, slated for a spring opening. The vegan-raw-organic chain will introduce a variety of breakfast and lunch options to make it easier for New Yorkers to include healthy meal options throughout their day. “Our goal is to become the definitive destination for organic breakfast, lunch and cold-pressed juices, which gives us endless possibilities for expansion in key metropolitan markets around the country,” explained Martin Bates, Organic Avenue’s CEO and former chief executive of Pret A Manger. According to the New York Post, “the 10-store chain is also set to launch six stores this year, beginning in February with a 1300 square foot space at 640 Broadway in the East Village. Similarly sized locations at 5 Bryant Park, and 254 Park Ave. South will follow in April.”

Russ & Daughters Café to Open Mid-March

After a century of churning some of the city’s best caviar, smoked fish, herring and bagels, Russ & Daughters will be opening Russ & Daughters Café, slated for a mid-March opening at 187 Orchard Street. Stay tuned to learn more about the exciting new venture.

New York’s First Customizable Sushi Enterprise

“Customizable” and “made-to-order” food are two of the biggest consumer trends for 2014. 22-year-old entrepreneur Jesse Tang saw potential to apply these trends to a major untapped market— sushi. “Pink Nori,” Tang’s sushi venture in Astoria, will be the first sushi concept to truly grant customers limitless freedom to customize their rolls. “The millennial generation likes to try new stuff,” Tang reasons. The menu will feature atypical sushi condiments such as guacamole, jalapeños and potato chips. Tang recently graduated from Stony Brook University and will use his $10,000 prize he earned from the Long Island Young Entrepreneur Challenge to market Pink Nori. Jesse’s father, restaurateur Danny Tang, will offer a hand in business operations. Astoria’s burgeoning dining scene and proliferation of young professionals with disposable incomes inspired Tang’s enterprise location decision.

Jessica Biel to Open “Soho House for Kids”

Actress Jessica Biel is in the planning stages of opening an exclusive eatery in Santa Monica called Au Fudge, which will welcome celebrity children and spawn of A-listers. Considered the “Soho House for kids,” the elite and their offspring will engage in dining and cooking activities in an atmosphere suitable for their VIP tastes.

Bobby Flay’s Gato to Open Next Month

Bobby Flay’s Spanish/Mediterranean restaurant Gato will open on 324 Lafayette Street in approximately one month. A cat that passed by the first time Flay saw the space inspired the restaurant’s name.

Liquiteria to Replace Gray’s Papaya on 8th Street

Gray’s Papaya’s loyal patrons have been in mourning since news broke that the venerated hot dog chain would be closing because of a $20,000 rent hike— from $30,000 to $50,000. Owner Nicholas Gray is scouting new locations, and the original Gray’s Papaya in the Upper West Side is still operating as usual. On January 26th Liquiteria, a celebrity and health-enthusiast haunt with currently one East Village location, will take Gray Papaya’s place.

Fast Casual Restaurants in Hospitals

Nation’s Restaurant News details the latest trend in healthcare— an elevated dining scene in hospitals. Hospitals are infamous for serving inedible cafeteria food that does anything but promote health, ironically. Patients’ higher expectations have led Northwestern Memorial Hospital in downtown Chicago to construct a 70,000-square-foot dining and retail space, “Shop & Dine Northwestern,” which includes local, relatively healthy fast-casual brands including GRK Greek Kitchen, Sopraffina Marketcaffe, Protein Bar, Saigon Sisters and Au Bon Pain.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital did not have to work hard to propose the concept to restaurant operators, as the proximity to Chicago’s “Magnificent Mile” and constant foot traffic are compelling enough reasons to open. Another obvious perk to opening fast casual restaurants inside hospitals is the 24-hour operations.

Operators are taking note of the success of fast casual concepts in urban hospitals nationwide. “The trend in restaurants is that folks are trying to cater menus to healthier, fresher options, and given that we’re in health care, it was important for us,” explained Gina Weldy, vice president of real estate for Northwestern Memorial. “In the work environment we’re in now, people eat three meals a day near the office. These concepts give us the ability to offer that.”

Two Keith McNally Restaurants Closing, and One Opening

Keith McNally’s Pulino’s will revel in its last moments on the Bowery as it prepares for its close on December 29th, and Pastis will be shutting down on January 31st. McNally’s latest venture involves Balthazar’s Shane McBride leading the kitchen team at a French restaurant called Cherche Midi, to open in March 2014.

Cafe Habana to Open Takeout Shop in Fort Greene

Cafe Habana is adding yet another outpost to their repertoire, which already includes the casual restaurant in Soho and the smaller Habana Outpost. Habana To-Go, planned to open in Fort Greene, will offer takeout and delivery and will be open year-round, in contrast to the Outpost which closes for the winter.