Today, food market Balducci's will open the first Balducci's Gourmet on the Go Cafe. The cafe is located at Hearst Tower, headquarters to Hearst Corporation, at 301 West 56th St. in New York City.
This marks the return of New York City's pioneering gourmet food grocer to Manhattan.
Balducci's has committed to donate a portion of opening day sales to the Food Bank of New York in an effort to fight hunger and give back.
Balducci's Gourmet on the Go Cafe will offer an array of authentic gourmet selections for breakfast, including Balducci's finest roasted coffees, fresh crepes, artisan breads, and pastries from New York City bakers.
For lunch or dinner on the go, New Yorkers and tourists can indulge in gourmet soups, sandwiches, and custom prepared salads, featuring fresh produce from local New York City urban farmers.
"We're confident that New Yorkers will once again enjoy the tastes, aromas, textures and sensations that can only be found at Balducci's," explains Emil Grosso, vice president, Business Development, Balducci's. "Consumers are in for a treat at our Gourmet on the Go Cafe, as we use only the highest quality and freshest ingredients, sourced locally and globally."
What began as a produce stand run by "Pop" Balducci has become a gourmet powerhouse, with stores in Maryland, Virginia, New York, and Connecticut.
The Gourmet on the Go Cafe at Hearst Tower marks the first step of a broader expansion in New York, which will include additional cafe locations and the return of a full-service Balducci's Food Lover's Market.
"We have retained that passion for authentic food that was the inspiration behind our food markets and have combined that with the needs of the on-the-go consumer for our Gourmet On the Go Cafe," says Judy Spires, CEO, Balducci's.
Balducci's Food Lover's Market is a gourmet specialty food retailer, founded in 1916. Balducci's principal shareholders are funds managed by Angelo, Gordon & Co., a leading New York based investment firm with more than $23 billion in assets under management specializing in private equity, real estate, and credit investments.