Spotlight | Smorgasburg

Welcome to Broadway Stages' Spotlight, where we feature local shops, restaurants, organizations, individuals, and venues. With summer in full swing, Broadway Stages is featuring and celebrating exceptional people, businesses, and organizations that make New York City a great place to spend the warm weather and sunny sky season. This week, we visit the famous Smorgasburg!

Since 2011, people have been exploring the world, one dish, and one drink at a time, at Smorgasburg, the largest weekly open-air food market in America. Smorgasburg (a mash-up of "smorgasbord" and "Williamsburg") is the brainchild of Brooklyn Flea creators Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby. 

The pair had opened the Brooklyn Flea in 2008, but by 2011, space was becoming limited. So, they decided to create a food-centered version of the original market in Brooklyn, open on Saturdays in the summer. As word spread, their new creation stretched at the seams. So they decided to expand to downtown Manhattan on Fridays and Breeze Hill in Prospect Park on Sundays. These locations operate every weekend, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., from April through October.

This summer, there is also a location at The Shed in Hudson Yards on Wednesdays and Thursdays every week through August 21-22. Its popularity has even spawned locations in Los Angeles, Jersey City, Sao Paulo, and most recently Miami and Toronto.

Some of the vendors operate at all of the sites, and some only at one. This year, more than 70 vendors are small businesses. Six of the new vendors are first-generation immigrant-owned businesses, and 11 are husband-and-wife-run or family-run. From this platform, many vendors have found multi-year success. Some have also made the leap to brick-and-mortar shops, restaurants, and packaged goods brands. 

If you are in the mood for something savory this year, you can visit Perro Slang Food for a loaded Colombian-style hot dog or get crispy Korean fried chicken at Twig'm. Want something really spicy? Try chef Ferehiwot Sheffield's sega wet. This is a fiery berbere beef stew served with tangy greens atop injera, spongy, fermented Ethiopian flatbread. Yumm!

Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy an ice cream sandwich from The Good Batch or a cup of vegan-friendly frozen shaved fruit from Frubae. And newcomer, Jatee Kearsley at the Je T'Aime Pâtisserie stand is ready to serve you croissants filled with strawberry shortcake cream and topped with strawberry and vanilla streusel and a churro-inspired creation stuffed with spicy chocolate.  Is your mouth watering yet? 

If you are a bagel fan but want to be adventurous, Bagel Joint is the place to go. This husband-and-wife-owned business is in Greenpoint at the McGolrick Park Farmers' Market. They offer bagel flavors that I am sure you have never had, such as duck egg, miso, and gochujang, as well as rosewater and wasabi cream cheese. 

Other new vendors this summer include  88 Coffee Company, Bom Bae, Double(s) or Nothin', Fat Choy, Gotcha Focaccia, Kalihi, Kravings Kafe, Lisbonata, Ole & Steen, Poutine Dauphine, Tosh's Patties, Twig'm, Virginia Smashburginia, and Wings by Chef Picky. Past favorite vendors Mao's Bao, Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria, Bona Bona Ice Cream, and Red Hook Lobster Pound will also be on hand. Follow Smorgasburg on Instagram for specials, upcoming events, or just to build an appetite.

The people of New York City are constantly finding new ways to share culture and build opportunities with each other. What started as an idea to give local small businesses an outlet has grown into a world phenomenon. Best of all, you don't need to leave the city to take advantage of it. Visit one of Smorgasburg's locations this week and have a taste. And when you get there, be sure to tell them Broadway Stages sent you!