Stumped by COVID-19, Food Halls Find Refuge in Virtual Spaces
Food halls were all the rage before the pandemic, but also one of the worst business models for social distancing. Their solution? The virtual space, of course.
Zuul Market
Zuul Market sets up delivery points around New York City, partnering with companies and landlords so that employees and residents can tap into its group delivery.
Among pandemic trends, the food hall arguably made the least amount of sense. When the 6-feet-apart standard became commonplace, pre-pandemic excitement toward community-oriented dining faded away.
But that didn’t mean that food halls simply disappeared. Instead, many existing halls found refuge online, while many other operators saw potential in creating virtual halls that re-created the diversity of food options in one centralized location.