A local businesswoman is finally realizing her vision for a building she and her husband have owned for decades.
Nga Vu, Shawn Tran and their family are preparing to open City Market, an Asian-focused food hall, in the building that housed a Beauty Plus store for 20 years. The hall opens at noon on Sunday.
Although it’s a family business, Vu said the concept had to reflect the community around 1101 Elysian Fields Avenue.
Upon entering, the food hall’s base color is white, allowing the bikes, plants and fruit decorations to pop – Vu chose the décor to reflect what is important to the neighbours in the community.
The other six food vendors in the hall will offer pho, sushi, hibachi, Vietnamese desserts, banh mi, chicken wings, po’boys, boiled seafood, burgers and cakes. Most of the food items are priced under $20, except for those that can be ordered for large groups.
“If we offer lower prices, people will come here more often,” Vu said.
Zoe’s Cakes, a branch of Zoe Bakery in Covington, will offer fresh coffee and baked goods in the food hall.
Angie Taylor arranges cakes on the counter at Zoe’s Bakery in City Market in New Orleans on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Staff photo by Sophia Germer▲
Vu will be running a food stall serving po’boys and boiled seafood.
Kim Son Express will serve pho and glass noodles that will be familiar to anyone who has visited the flagship restaurant in Houston.
The operators of local pop-up store “Nori Guys” will be serving up nori tacos and classic hibachi dishes at their booth, “Hibachi Grille.”
Bywater Burgers and Wings will serve its namesake dish, and Kiko Sushi will be rolling out sushi and poke menu items to coincide with the City Market opening.
Vu said that by setting up a booth focusing on Vietnamese desserts, she hopes people will be able to try sweet treats they may have never tried before.
“If you don’t introduce it, you’ll never know,” Vu said.
City Market sells a variety of Asian products in New Orleans. Thursday, June 27, 2024. Staff photo by Sophia Germer▲
Similarly, Vu has set up a mini market stocked with fresh fruit, soups and other Asian cuisine staples. He said he wants to provide tools so people can make at home the things they try in his food hall and buy things that have already been made in the hall.
While food halls in New Orleans are struggling to stay open, Vu said her family is prepared to rise to the challenge, drawing on decades of experience running local businesses.
“The food industry is one of the hardest industries to survive in. You have to have a passion for the food industry,” she said.
City Market
1101 Elysian Fields Avenue
Monday to Sunday 8am to 9pm
