Smorgasburg To Open Weekly Open Air Market In Upstate New York

KINGSTON, N.Y. and BROOKLYN, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Smorgasburg, the wildly successful food and flea market offshoot of Brooklyn Flea is coming to Kingston and vicinity beginning June 4^th.   The open-air market will feature dozens of upstate food vendors, plus local handmade goods and antiques on 10 gorgeous acres of the former Hutton Brickyards site on the banks of the Hudson River.  Delicious foods from local area chefs and purveyors like Outdated (Kingston) and Raven & Boar (East Chatham) will join Brooklyn gastronomic all-stars such as Ramen Burger and Lumpia Shack to create the region's tastiest weekly destination. Also on the menu: Fresh produce, snacks and packaged foods from the likes of Sawkill Farm (Red Hook) as well as vintage and salvage finds from Factory Hill (Philmont). Wash it all down with a selection of the New York State craft beer while relaxing only steps from the river's edge.

"Bringing our movable feast to Upstate New York is the natural evolution for a company that's been celebrating and promoting local food businesses for the past decade," said Jonathan Butler who, along with Eric Demby, founded the Brooklyn Flea in 2008 and Smorgasburg in 2011. "There's a renaissance occurring in the creative economy in the Hudson Valley that we are looking forward to being a part of.  We think Kingston, with its central location, storied history, beautiful riverfront environment, and vibrant community, is the perfect place to pitch our tent (or in this case, tents)."

Abandoned with rusting structures for the past 30 years, the Hutton Brickyards site will undergo an initial clean up and reconstruction of some of the historic buildings and areas on the property as part of the launch of the market.  For decades the Brickyards was a leading provider of jobs to Kingston and supplier of bricks to New York City and beyond.  The opening of the site to the public, will offer visitors a magical slice of local history. New owner MWest Holdings has worked closely with Smorgasburg to preserve and activate the iconic steel structures that prior owners planned to tear down and turn into residential condos. The team is working closely with Kingston officials to make sure the market and its associated use meets all the local regulations and requirements to assure the public's safety.

Recently elected Mayor of Kingston, Steve Noble has been instrumental in making the market a reality. "As an environmentalist and avid Hudson River kayaker, I've admired the beauty and faded grandeur of the Hutton Brickyards site for years," said Mayor Noble. "I'm thrilled that this historic site, an industrial engine for the city for much of the 20^th Century, will be preserved and reborn as a hub of economic and cultural activity for the 21^st Century. My administration is committed to fostering small business growth in Kingston and I see Smorgasburg as an integral part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem."

The opening of Smorgasburg on the site will mark the first time in three decades that the public will be able to access the site and enjoy the stunning views of the Hudson River and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. "We are so excited and proud to be the stewards of such an important property and to have a chance to use it to celebrate the region's agricultural roots and burgeoning food scene," said MWest President Karl Slovin. "Our goal is to carefully bring the Hutton Brickyards back to life with proven taste makers who love the history and urban archeology of the site as much as we do.  This is the first step in what we hope will be a long-term partnership with the community to make this site a rich cultural destination of choice for locals and tourists alike."

The Hutton Brickyards is located at 100 North Street in Kingston, NY, a short drive from historic Uptown Kingston and the Rondout neighborhood. Smorgasburg will be held on Saturdays starting June 4 through the end of October, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information or to apply to be a vendor please visit smorgasburg.com/upstate.  Smorgasburg is also launching a new market in Downtown Los Angeles every Sunday starting June 19.

[1] New York Times

SOURCE MWest Holdings