Balducci's is back. This Thursday, December 15th, the store that once ruled the roost of the Village, re-opens on 14th Street and 8th Avenue after its three-year hiatus.
With new owners, a new black and orange color scheme, and a lot of exciting promises ("a true Italian salumeria," "gorgeous organic produce," "the freshest seafood in town"), the new Balducci's will definitely be an exciting addition to the limited choices for groceries downtown.
We'll be there when the doors open. If it's a madhouse like the Jimmy Choo sample sale was last night, we'll be happy that New Yorkers are getting that excited about groceries.
Limited choices for groceries downtown? Are you kidding? Moving from west to east on 14th Street, there's already a Garden of Eden, a Whole Foods Market, a Food Emporium, and a Trader Joe's on its way, with a Gristedes or two thrown in there somewhere. Downtown is flooded with fancy grocery stores. And if you want to see a madhouse, go into Whole Foods any day between 5 and 8 pm, when the line stretches to the hot bar (full of people buying tragically overpriced prepared and packaged food, snatch).
Not to mention my favorite of the bunch, Western Beef!
West-Side Market on 7th Ave b/t 14th & 15th St is alright too...
-kellen
Trader Joes? When is that coming?????