Eataly

Eatalyis a chain of large format/footprint Italian marketplaces (food halls) comprising a variety of restaurants, food and beverage counters, bakery, retail items, and a cooking school. Eataly was founded byOscar Farinetti, an entrepreneur formerly involved in the consumer electronics business, and collaborates withSlow Food.
In January 2007, Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti opened the first location of Eataly,converting a closed vermouth factory in theLingottodistrict ofTurin. Easily accessible via theLingotto metro station, the establishment has been described byThe New York Timesas a "megastore" that "combines elements of a bustling European open market, a Whole-Foods-style supermarket, a high-end food court and a New Age learning center."Farinetti planned early on that additional stores would open elsewhere in Italy and inNew York Citywith help of investor chefMario Batali.
The first Eataly location inManhattanwas established in theToy Center BuildingnearMadison Square Park.It is over 50,000 square feet (4,600 m) in size,and opened with a large amount of press coverage on August 31, 2010.MayorMichael Bloombergand Eataly investor chefMario Bataliattended the opening, praising Eataly for creating 300 new jobs.Two weeks after opening, there were still lines extending down Fifth Avenue to get into the store.The New York Eataly was originally planned for a smaller space nearRockefeller Center.
The chain has additional locations in Italy and a few inTokyo.In 2012 Eataly opened inRomeits largest megastore, in the abandoned Air Terminal building nearOstiense Station. There is an Eataly at Rome'sFiumicinoairport, and in the Porto Antico area inGenoa.
In January 2013, Eataly announced a partnership withMSC Cruisesto open two restaurants on MSC Preziosa.Eataly was also added to MSC Divina.
On December 2, 2013, Eataly opened a new location at 43 E. Ohio St. in Chicago, on a 63,000-square-foot retail space,making it the largest Eataly in the US. The cost of the Chicago venture is estimated at $20 million. On March 18, 2014, Eataly opened its big 5,000 sqm store in Piazza XXV Aprile in Milan.
The founder Oscar Farinetti received theAmerica Awardof theItaly-USA Foundationin 2013. On December 16, 2014, Eataly opened the first store at Zorlu Center in Istanbul. On May 19, 2015, Eataly opened its first store in the southern hemisphere inSão Paulo. On November 26, 2015, Eataly opened inMunich, making it the first location inGermany.
2016 sawAndrea Guerrabecome CEO of Eataly. Guerra previously served as the CEO of eyewear giantLuxotticafrom 2004 to 2014.
In June 2016, it was announced that an Eataly location would open in 2018 at thePark MGMcasino in Las Vegas (formerly the Monte Carlo).Eataly will fill approximately 40,000 square feet on the southern edge of the resort and The Park-facing side will become the main pedestrian entrance into the Park MGM casino.
In July 2016, Eataly announced aDowntown Manhattanlocation at theWorld Trade Center.
In November 2016, a 45,000-square-foot Eataly location opened in theBostonPrudential Center, replacing an existing food court after extensive renovations.
In October 2017, Eataly Century City location opened at the newly remodeled $1-billion Westfield Century City Mall in Los Angeles County. Covering 67,000 square feet, Eataly L.A. surpassed Eataly Chicago to become the largest Eataly in the United States.
On February 17, 2018, Eataly opened its 40th location in Stockholm, Sweden. The operation occupies 32,300 square feet in a former movie theater in the heart of Stockholm's shopping district.
In April 2019, Eataly opened its first location in Paris, France. It is located in the center of the French capital inthe Maraisneighborough, between thePlace des Émeutes-de-Stonewall(Stonewall Riots square) and the rue Sainte-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, inLe Marais(4th arrondissement).
The autumn of 2019 saw Guerra depart Eataly for an executive leadership position atLVMH. Guerra's replacement was Nicola Farinetti, son of founder Oscar Farinetti.
On November 13, 2019, Eataly opened a 50,000-square-foot store inToronto, Canada in theManulife Centreon Bloor Street.
On December 9, 2020, Early opened a 48,000-square-foot store in Dallas, Texas at NorthPark Center.
In September 2022, the UK investment firm Investindustrial VII LP became Eataly's owner by acquiring a majority 52% of its shares for 200 million euros.
On November 2, 2023, Eataly opened its second Toronto location atSherway Gardensshopping mall with 25,000 square feet of space.On May 30, 2024, it opened its third Toronto location atShops at Don Millswith 9,800 square feet. A fourth Toronto location is expected to open in 2025 at theEaton Centre.
The name Eataly was coined by Celestino Ciocca, abrand strategyconsultantwho has worked forTexas InstrumentsandErnst & Young. He first registered Eataly as adomain nameon February 23, 2000, and as atrademarkin June 2000. Ciocca sold (by his family company) all his rights to the name to Natale Farinetti on February 3, 2004, by public deedrepertorio n° 96538 – raccolta n° 11510.
Mario Batali, previously a minority owner and founder of Eataly, is now no longer attached to the company following his sexual misconduct allegations. Eataly pulled all products bearing his likeness two days after the allegations surfaced in 2017.
The Eataly store inLas Vegas'Park MGMis owned byMGM Resorts International.
Eataly announced the dissolution of its franchise in Moscow due to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine on 30 March 2022.
Other planned stores include locations inBeirut(2024),Brussels,andPhiladelphia(2025).