New food hall to open in Gainesville

A food hall is scheduled to open next month for food enthusiasts in Gainesville.

"Our food hall model is centered around building a dynamic culinary and entertainment hub that brings people and communities together whether that’s for a first date, a family night out or for grabbing a quick bite with friends," said Peter Rounce, founder and CEO of City Food Hall. "One thing we have seen over the years, especially after the Covid era, is that community steadily declined. People want places where groups can come and spend time together and that's what we wanted to deliver."

The hall will act as an incubator for Gainesville’s up-and-coming and veteran chefs by providing a turn-key space for them to build their businesses, showcase and test their concepts and eventually branch out and open their own locations, Rounce said.

"We will be featuring 10 specialty chef-driven concepts all under one roof," Rounce said. "The diverse culinary offerings will be complemented by a full-service bar and a dynamic entertainment program. From Japanese to Mexican to American and Italian, customers will get the opportunity to experience a culinary journey around the world, where everyone can choose their own favorite dishes."

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The 14,000 square-foot facility will be located at 150 NW 13th St. on the ground floor of The Standard Gainesville, just across the street from the University of Florida campus.

"Our goal was to be in a prime location in the city, which is what this piece of real estate offers, especially being directly across from the University of Florida," Rounce said. "Our goal is to become Gainesville’s favorite gathering place. We really want to foster a sense of community, we want to be a destination that the whole community can enjoy - families, businesses, students, young professionals and more. Our aim is to deliver a flexible gathering space that delivers a diverse range of quality food and drink offerings, in a highly experiential and interactive environment."

The food hall will provide entertainment weekly and will be available to host special events for the community, Rounce said.

"Visitors won’t be tied down to set dinner reservations, they will have the freedom to come and go as they please," Rounce said. "Whether customers want to grab a quick coffee, meet friends for dinner or stay for a couple of hours to catch up on work, they can."